The factory of the future will be more flexible, more efficient, faster and more sustainable. The adaptability of manufacturing processes in particular will be a decisive factor for future competitiveness. If they become flexibly configurable, small local sites with correspondingly in-depth manufacturing know-how are possible. Increasing digitalisation will allow processes to be linked even more strongly, even across factories, and thus optimise supply chains. Many local and smart value creation networks will emerge. Through sensor technology, analytics and artificial intelligence, productivity is increased and downtimes and maintenance are reduced.
The digitalisation of production and the systemic networking of value chains into value networks in the sense of "Industry 4.0" is of central importance for Thuringia as a location for innovation. The production world of tomorrow will be accompanied by an increasing linking of the real and the digital world. On the one hand, intelligent information, communication and management systems can be used to link internal company processes and resources more closely, and on the other hand, complete value chains are networked from the supplier to other producers and all the way to the customer. New automation solutions, intelligent robotics and autonomous systems will support skilled workers specifically in routine work. Nevertheless, humans also widely play the central role: Safe and ergonomic human-machine interaction results in skilled workers being able to concentrate on their core competencies. The image of a factory floor will change into an interactive, digitalised place, not least due to the European "Green Deal".
