Projects / Programmes
Innovative production systems and processes
January 1, 2017
- December 31, 2021
Code |
Science |
Field |
Subfield |
2.10.00 |
Engineering sciences and technologies |
Manufacturing technologies and systems |
|
1.07.00 |
Natural sciences and mathematics |
Computer intensive methods and applications |
|
Code |
Science |
Field |
T130 |
Technological sciences |
Production technology |
Code |
Science |
Field |
2.03 |
Engineering and Technology |
Mechanical engineering |
1.01 |
Natural Sciences |
Mathematics |
Smart factories, manufacturing systems and processes (MSP), real-time control, digitalisation of industry, digital factories, internet of things (IoT), smart tools, adaptive tools, data transfer, big-data, intelligent optimisation algorithms, microtechnologies
Researchers (26)
no. |
Code |
Name and surname |
Research area |
Role |
Period |
No. of publicationsNo. of publications |
1. |
29052 |
Edo Adrović |
|
Technical associate |
2017 - 2018 |
0 |
2. |
21232 |
PhD Mihael Debevec |
Manufacturing technologies and systems |
Researcher |
2017 - 2021 |
0 |
3. |
38468 |
Pavel Drešar |
|
Technical associate |
2017 - 2020 |
0 |
4. |
10499 |
PhD Niko Herakovič |
Mechanical design |
Head |
2017 - 2021 |
0 |
5. |
53512 |
Denis Jankovič |
Manufacturing technologies and systems |
Junior researcher |
2019 - 2021 |
0 |
6. |
33239 |
PhD Marko Jerman |
Manufacturing technologies and systems |
Researcher |
2017 - 2021 |
0 |
7. |
09006 |
PhD Mihael Junkar |
Manufacturing technologies and systems |
Retired researcher |
2017 - 2021 |
0 |
8. |
12260 |
PhD Andrej Lebar |
Manufacturing technologies and systems |
Researcher |
2017 - 2021 |
0 |
9. |
07125 |
PhD Peter Metlikovič |
Manufacturing technologies and systems |
Researcher |
2017 - 2019 |
0 |
10. |
32686 |
PhD Tina Novak |
Natural sciences and mathematics |
Researcher |
2018 - 2021 |
0 |
11. |
23469 |
PhD Henri Orbanić |
Manufacturing technologies and systems |
Researcher |
2017 - 2021 |
0 |
12. |
12957 |
PhD Tomaž Pepelnjak |
Manufacturing technologies and systems |
Researcher |
2017 - 2021 |
0 |
13. |
33801 |
PhD Miha Pipan |
Manufacturing technologies and systems |
Researcher |
2017 - 2021 |
0 |
14. |
51161 |
Miha Prijatelj |
|
Technical associate |
2018 |
0 |
15. |
17999 |
Matjaž Rot |
|
Technical associate |
2017 - 2021 |
0 |
16. |
21774 |
PhD Darja Rupnik Poklukar |
Mathematics |
Researcher |
2018 - 2021 |
0 |
17. |
30912 |
PhD Izidor Sabotin |
Manufacturing technologies and systems |
Researcher |
2017 - 2019 |
0 |
18. |
54780 |
Ema Stefanovska |
Manufacturing technologies and systems |
Junior researcher |
2021 |
0 |
19. |
31322 |
PhD Marko Šimic |
Manufacturing technologies and systems |
Researcher |
2017 - 2021 |
0 |
20. |
39194 |
PhD Maja Turk |
Manufacturing technologies and systems |
Junior researcher |
2017 - 2020 |
0 |
21. |
24274 |
PhD Marko Uplaznik |
Physics |
Researcher |
2017 - 2021 |
0 |
22. |
18553 |
PhD Joško Valentinčič |
Manufacturing technologies and systems |
Researcher |
2017 - 2021 |
0 |
23. |
51943 |
Suzana Vinetič |
Manufacturing technologies and systems |
Junior researcher |
2018 - 2021 |
0 |
24. |
21773 |
PhD Helena Zakrajšek |
Mathematics |
Researcher |
2018 - 2019 |
0 |
25. |
37172 |
PhD Hugo Zupan |
Manufacturing technologies and systems |
Researcher |
2019 - 2021 |
0 |
26. |
03430 |
PhD Janez Žerovnik |
Mathematics |
Researcher |
2017 - 2021 |
0 |
Organisations (2)
Abstract
The topic of the proposed research programme is the digitalization of the production industry. Manufacturing systems and processes (MSP) which include manufacturing tools, manufacturing devices, manufacturing machines, process of material and information flow through the whole manufacturing system are key elements in the chain of added value. Real time manufacturing systems and processes (MSP) are different from the traditional MSP, since they are controlled by smart networks, smart systems and intelligent software, which is connected to smart tools, machines and devices.
In collaboration with concessionary and other companies we will master the manufacturing processes at reduced scale of products, transfer knowledge to virtual environment and master the innovation cycle. We will continue to develop and update the manufacturing technologies, especially in the context of transition from macro- to mezzo- and micro- environment. We will develop new microreactor systems and optimise micromanufacturing process chains, and continue to work towards the lower energy consumption of particular machines and components. The main focus of the proposed research program is on Smart factories to increase their efficiency and flexibility of MSP, based on principles of the Digital Factory, LEAN, AGILE and TQM and are consistent with the guidelines of the industry 4.0. At the same time we want to enable individual manufacturing within a large-scale production with a high degree of repeatability of product quality. For communication we will use distributed systems, wireless communication technology and the internet of things (IoT). Self-adjusting mechanisms of MSP with defined roles are based on the development of an intelligent algorithm that automatically suggest optimization steps and solutions. The above mentioned technologies, related to the concepts of Smart Factories, we will apply on the fields of smart forming tools; on-line determination of optimal stress-strain rate of products; IceJet cutting; high-dynamic hydraulic positioning axes controlled by the digital piezo valves and precise length scale of travel integrated into the piston rod; intelligent MSP in the domain of assembly and packaging of the consumer products; noise reduction for small home appliances by active damping of vibrations; increasing the level of automation of small home appliances, but to allow the user to express individual needs and taste during the food processing.
In this way we follow the evolution and prospect of manufacturing systems and processes, which extends from current state of so called LEAN manufacturing, through paradigm of Manufuture to smart factories and further on to the concept of Remote factory.
Significance for science
Consortium members have already gained positive feedback from a global scientific Community. In the following years, as the project expands into Smart factory as one of the primary field of Europe, we expect new major research achievements in the area of basic and applied research activities. The achievable results of new consortium are:
new flexible manufacturing concepts,
new flexible manufacturing technologies,
continuous monitoring and control of manufacturing processes to reduce the manufacturing tolerances,
optical control of manufacturing processes and implementation of closed-loop control to stabilize and enhance the quality of the processes,
piezo valves in pneumatics and hydraulics,
concepts, technologies and optimization methods to minimize the energy consumption of manufacturing processes,
technologies and concepts of digitization and overall production integration,
lean production,
shortening of the manufacturing cycles,
product design for disassembly and sorting materials at disassembling processes,
a new method for jet identification in water jet cutting,
new innovative forming technology of incremental forming for small batch production,
methodologies for optimal assembly operations determination,
methodologies for operation forecasting of adaptive manufacturing systems in small batch production,
methodologies for increasing flexibility, reliability and availability of complex manufacturing systems and processes,
methodologies for introduction and implementation of robotic production systems,
development of decision-making systems and systems for the process selection,
generalized model for stabilization of forming process of sheet metal components by their simultaneously positioning to stable technological windows,
use of inductive machine learning methods in manufacturing systems
criteria for optimal combination of different manufacturing technologies,
Research results of other key segments of microtechnologies:
machining processes with a direct energy input,
technologies and tools for micro forming,
recognition and identification of microcomponents,
micro assembly and logistics,
increasing of dynamic performance of actuators in order to reduce energy consumption,
decisionmaking criteria for the process selection regarding sustainability and energy consumption.
Significance for the country
Programme consortium collaborated with following well known industry partners Domel, FDS Research and Gorenje Toolmaking. Additionally, we are collaborating with BSH, which is an industrial partner of the proposed research programme. Together we successfully finished numerous R&D tasks and transferred them to the industrial environment. The results of cooperation with various Slovenian companies leaded to several patent applications to protect the technical solutions worldwide. Nowadays, the research that leads to partial technological solutions is not sufficient for a global competitiveness of Slovenian industry, but the integration into modern European industrial initiatives exposed in Smart factories or Factories of the future paradigm is required.
Digitalisation of industry, especially manufacturing systems and processes, is recently a trend in Slovenia. Smart factories have become one of the pillars of Smart Specialisation Strategy (SPS), which was approved by Slovenian government in 2015. The proposed research programme team have been actively involved in formation of the Strategy and into various initiatives aiming to develop the missing technologies and knowledge enabling digitalisation of the manufacturing systems and processes.
National identity can be strengthened only together with exportoriented industry. Among all young EU countries Slovenia still delivers high volume of its export for the European automotive industry despite all turbulent conditions on the markets. Unfortunately, the development of Slovenian automotive suppliers is slower than the development of European automotive industry. The gap can only be reduced by implementation of flexible and smart production directed to industrial branches with high added value. The implementaion of Smart factories paradigm in Slovenian companies is thus of a paramount importance for its future worldwide competitiveness. This is especially important for SMEs that often do not incorporate even basic principles of smart manufacturing.
This is still strong indicator of our technological development. Additional, many Slovenian suppliers have important status in foreign companies being active in our area. This is shown also in cooperation interest of B/S/H in the I2S program. Slovene development and technological knowledge is installed into top European products with high added value which strengthens our international reputation.
Implementation of acquired knowledge by the program group can also significantly stimulate the increase of added value in Slovenian companies. With targeted problem solving in the industry and transition support to the concepts of Smart factories, the members of the program team help to increase the competitiveness of Slovenian companies. This is already reflected in the active involvement of program group members in the initiatives of smart specialization and a number of industrial projects in this area with Yaskawa Ristro, Plastika Skaza, Gorenje d.d., BSH, Polycom, Numip, Elaphe, Kreativni Aluminij, Yaskawa Europe, Yaskawa Electric Corporation, Danfoss, Perndorfer Maschinenbau, Best Fluid Technology, KGL, ARMAT, Iskra Mehanizmi, etc.
Members of the project consortium are aware that technological development is based on young experts. Therefore, there is a great emphasis on the education of undergraduate and postgraduate students and proper guidance of young researchers. Members of the consortium are currently mentors of six PhD and three Master students all of their themes are industrially oriented. Some of the themes covers the fields of digital and virtual factories as well as intelligent decision algorithms and lean manufacturing, flexible processes and innovative technologies for the energy consumption reduction in the manufacturing processes.
By the above mentioned activities on the field of Digital factories in projects with industry we stimulated the growth of added value between 10 and 25%, which is consistent with th
Most important scientific results
Annual report
2017,
2018,
2019
Most important socioeconomically and culturally relevant results
Annual report
2017,
2018,
2019