Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are under increasing pressure to respond quickly to market shifts and customised demand. Researchers from the Fraunhofer IWU and IPA have developed a approach that helps companies introduce flexible production systems without major investments as the institute reported. By reusing existing machinery, processes and skills, modular and mobile components allow manufacturers to adapt machinery to capacity or product types efficiently.

Using Siemens Plant Simulation, the team modelled throughput, cycle time and equipment utilisation, proving that a multi-level, automated storage system can handle variable parts and volumes while ensuring scalability according to the institute. (js)

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