Smart Value Networks

The strategic activities of ESB Business School will complement the consideration of value chains and thus give Werk150, the factory of ESB Business School on the campus of Reutlingen University, even greater importance as a research and transfer center. 

An important component is the research and development of the construction and management of integrated logistics chains in the context of sustainability as well as smart products and factories. In addition, learning content for lectures and practical seminars will be derived. The aim is to develop scenarios that introduce students to the world of supply chain management with a PLM system in order to build up know-how in the field of "impacts in supply chains" through changes in the environment (multi-product and production system approach). These experiences and competences will be used by the students in their later professional life in trade and industry. 

Supply chain management in the context of digitisation requires the integration of information processing between the supply chain partners. This requires suitable interfaces or services to exchange information between the stages and the required software systems. Through the paperless exchange of planning-relevant data, procurement, production and sales planning can be coordinated at the various stages. The overall project comprises three milestones, which are listed below. 

Milestone 1 (2019/2020) 

1. Development of the theoretical basic knowledge for the "Supply Chain Management System". 
2. Description of Werk150 within the context of the research content
3. Development and implementation of a production system including an internal supply chain with two production sites
4. Representation of the material and information flows in a first draft to identify changes and constraints for the use of the 3D platform.
5. Definition of three case studies for external turbulence as a basis for the work in Milestone 2.

Milestone 2 (2021/ 2022) will include the following content 

1. Extension and modelling of use cases for possible external turbulences for the supply chain network of Werk150 
2. Identification of existing functionalities and derivation of additional required functionalities for the integrated mapping and control of the "supply chain and production system" in a business platform
3. Development of a product and factory development process with integrated value and a sustainable supply chain 
4. Integrated design of the workflow with existing apps/software systems, initial selected tests in a 3D collaboration platform by the Werk150 team
5. Analysis of the existing software functionality and specification of further required components for the digital mapping and control of supply chains 
6. Specification of further required functionality for the programming of new apps by Dassault Systemes
7. Development of initial training materials for the significant use of the software based on the existing functionality for the design and control of holistic supply chains.