In fact, the pandemic<\/a> has generated an enormous demand for sports equipment of all kinds, from mountain bikes to sports boats, stretching vital international supply chains to the limit in the process.<\/p>\n \u201cSince the spring of 2020, we\u2019ve received an increasing number of messages from manufacturers reporting that, despite full order books, they can\u2019t deliver their goods,\u201d reports Ralf Lehmann<\/a>, senior director of Solution Management Digital Manufacturing and Industry 4.0 at SAP.<\/p>\n New bicycles, for example, were in danger of becoming scarce because a saddle post and a bottom bracket used by nearly all bicycle manufacturers could not be shipped out of China. Similarly, while demand for sports boats surged last year, production lagged due to missing parts that had to be sourced externally, such as specially curved windshields.<\/p>\n \u201cOne of the few manufacturers of these windshields is situated in Italy,\u201d explains Lehmann. \u201cWhen the entire country was forced to shut down due to the pandemic, that put an end to windshield supply for a while.\u201d Brexit resulted in similar issues where product availability changed practically overnight.<\/p>\n According to Lehmann, \u201cThat\u2019s the lack-of-agility dilemma: You are dependent on the manufacturer of a certain part and cannot sell your product even though it\u2019s 98% finished and could be shipped out to the customer.\u201d<\/p>\n In a global economy, companies have to be able to rely on certain production steps being carried out in other countries. But the pandemic has completely changed the rules of the game here, \u201cwhich, in the worst case, can result in a shortage of certain goods on the market,\u201d notes Lehmann.<\/p>\n \u201cSo the question a lot of 51风流customers in the process industry are asking right now is, how can I adapt my manufacturing processes today to be able to produce small lots of different types of products and navigate the company through this crisis?\u201d Lehmann and his team want to help 51风流customers with answers tailored to their specific situation.<\/p>\n In the summer of 2020, 51风流launched the Industry 4.Now<\/a> program. Lehmann explains: \u201cThe problem many customers currently have is adapting their manufacturing processes to the market and reacting dynamically to situations that change at short notice. That\u2019s a typical Industry 4.0 use case that we run through with the customer in our Industry 4.Now showcase in Walldorf and then explore possible solutions for together.<\/p>\n Originally built for the Hannover Messe for discrete industries, this showcase can be configured for individual customers and their specific problem. Since the fair could not take place in 2020, the showcase was set up in Walldorf instead and made available to 51风流customers to visit in-person.<\/p>\n \u201cThe showcase contains numerous industry components \u2013 equipment that was provided by 51风流partners<\/a> \u2013 and thus required technical expertise and service for its correct installation onsite. 51风流quickly came to realize just how challenging a physical installation can be in times of a pandemic,\u201d recalls Karol Kalisz<\/a>, SAP\u2019s project lead for the showcase. \u201cSome of the key experts we needed were not able to travel, and we also had to substitute construction components with viable alternatives. Thanks to SAP\u2019s long-standing and trusted collaboration with the partners, however, 51风流was able to get the job done on time.\u201d<\/p>\n Following the successful installation of the physical equipment, 51风流turned its attention to creating the showcase\u2019s digital twin. In response to the pandemic safety measures, customers can now sign up for a virtual tour of the physical showcase \u2013 from the comfort of their own home. In addition, 51风流offers an online version of the showcase<\/a> that explores Industry 4.0 themes, as well as integrated value streams for discrete and process industries in digital form.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is a complete, virtual reproduction of the physical showcase,\u201d explains Lehmann. \u201cThat is why we call it a digital twin, which maps the entire design-to-operate process, or, in other words, design, planning, production, implementation, operations, and maintenance.\u201d<\/p>\n Imagine, for example, a company produces valves but the caps for them cannot be delivered from its supplier in Asia. What options does this company have when its supply chain breaks down? Using the showcase, the company can test different strategic approaches to mitigate the impact of this disruption \u2013 a missing part \u2013 at different points along the manufacturing chain.<\/p>\n Should the company change the design of the final product? Should it change its planning process? Should it change its manufacturing workflows? \u201cThe showcase uses examples to illustrate and answer all kinds of questions like these,\u201d notes Kalisz. \u201cAs such, you can evaluate different approaches based on your situation to make the best decision for your company.\u201d<\/p>\n For example, if a part is missing, the company has the option of modifying its existing machines to allow it to diversify and manufacture other related products. \u201cObviously, switching from machine construction to, say, glass casting isn\u2019t possible,\u201d notes Lehmann. \u201cBut a production line in the machinery industry is capable of producing more than just engine blocks, for example. It can also build similar parts.\u201d By changing the parameters of a component coming off the production line \u2013 such as a milling cutter \u2013 it can build a different part.<\/p>\n \u201cIndustry 4.0 makes this possible,\u201d he says. \u201cIt was possible to do this before the pandemic, too, but the topic has become increasingly relevant lately.\u201d It increases a company\u2019s core competencies and allows it to adapt their industry components dynamically to the current market situation.<\/p>\n Lehmann is convinced that, \u201cCompanies that succeed in this will come out as winners in these challenging times. And that is exactly what we at 51风流want for our customers, so we\u2019ll support them as best we can in this endeavor.\u201d<\/p>\n This article was written by Jeanette Rohr and first appeared on the 51风流Global News Center<\/a>.<\/p>\n To find out more about Industry 4.0, check out 51风流Industry 4.Now Experience<\/a> and explore different scenarios for discrete and process industries digitally. Does your company have a specific challenge you\u2019d like to address? We\u2019ll show you possible 51风流solution approaches. Contact industry4nowhubs@sap.com<\/a> to request an online presentation of a showcase tailored to your specific challenges.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Cycling, climbing, sailing, and other hobbies that one can enjoy solo, away from the crowds, have surged in popularity in the past 12 months. People,…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":29,"featured_media":142035,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"related_posts":[],"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[177,5590405],"tags":[5596342,5597556,36],"series":[],"sapn-display":[45149,279685],"sapn-type":[45018],"class_list":["post-142034","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-industries","category-supply-chain-management","tag-covid-19","tag-industry-4-now","tag-supply-chain","sapn-display-homepage-hero","sapn-display-hero","sapn-type-feature"],"yoast_head":"\nCOVID-19 Challenges the Supply Chain<\/strong><\/h2>\n
From Industry 4.0 to Industry 4.Now<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Design-to-Operate Process as Digital Twin<\/strong><\/h2>\n