Die digitale fabrik. Definition und handlungsfelder

The realisation nowadays that the planning of production systems has to be more flexible and faster reacting is undisputed. As a universal tool for revolutionising production engineering planning processes, the digital factory is now the subject of countless scientific and industrial publications and events. While many see the digital factory as a project already in the process of realisation, for others it is still a remote vision of the future that goes far beyond concepts presently being discussed. Just as diverse as the various potential benefits attributed to the digital factory are the views about the concept of the digital factory and the strategies for its implementation. Starting from the summarisation and discussion of these different ideas and a clarification of the terms used, this article attempts to clearly distinguish the meaning and scope of the digital factory. The differences to competing ideas and concepts such as virtual production are clarified. Finally, the current spheres of activity in the area of the digital factory are outlined.