Both the specialist presentations and the concluding panel discussion met with a great response. Trade visitors and interested parties took a lot away with them: more understanding of the potential of AI, practical solutions and optimistic approaches to action.

Artificial intelligence (AI) supports people, it does not replace them. Humans are not forgotten when AI is used. It intervenes where operations overtax human capabilities - it is an enabler for various aspects of industrial production. This is the conclusion that can be drawn from the six specialist presentations on the morning of the second day of Motek. The presentations, which were well attended by more than 100 people at times, focused on AI from different perspectives - such as AI in industrial robotics, AI-based gripping, machine learning and AI as digital services. With its concise and practice-oriented format, the forum was a suitable platform for raising awareness of the potential of AI in industry. It was very well received and attracted a great deal of attention from production automation specialists who want to improve their processes and make them more efficient.

The presentations in detail:

• Digital factory, machine learning and condition-based maintenance
  Markus Berghammer, Director International Business Development Factory Automation, Phoenix Contact
  
  
• Requirements and effective foundations for AI applications - from the perspective of a component and system supplier
  Patrick Hantschel, Head of Digitalization Center, Wittenstein
  
  
• Is this AI or can it go away? AI in industrial robotics
  René Kirsten, Research Team Manager Robotics & Automation, ABB
  
  
• igusGO app brings customers and sustainable products together
  Kai Finke, Senior Manager Online Tools and Platform, Igus
  
  
• AI-based, intelligent & flexible gripping of unknown objects
  Marco Dutenstädter, Business Development Robotics, J. Schmalz
  
  
• AI as digital services in the data room
  Pascal Rübel, Project Manager Factory-X, Area Manager for Industrial Business, SmartFactory Kaiserslautern

Manufacturing needs AI for future viability

What manufacturing companies need is well known: more efficiency in processes, resources and energy consumption, better performance, further savings, higher capacity utilization and availability. AI can provide essential support here and be a turbo for lean processes: first improve the processes, network them via digitalization and then use AI applications. The result is the continuous optimization of all actions and the avoidance of waste with the effect of reducing time and costs while increasing quality.

The user-specific mathematical procedures of the respective AI applications require the end-to-end digitalization of all relevant components and processes, and the resulting data must be open. The benefits of using AI - increased flexibility, simplification, performance gains and cost savings - can only be realized if data spaces are opened up and shared. This openness is essential. Only then, for example, is condition-based maintenance possible, for which mechatronic components and systems independently record and communicate operating information. Only with this openness is it possible to operate machines remotely, for example as part of a business model in which manufacturing companies use machines as a service subscription with function modules that can be switched on flexibly and as required. And only with this openness can digital services also be used, for example in areas where there is a shortage of workers due to demographic trends. AI supports these areas of work and is the key to ensuring that Industry 4.0 can be implemented productively.

Germany can still be saved as a business location, but ...

Following the presentations, editor-in-chief Andreas Mühlbauer invited the audience to a panel discussion: Dr Ingo Herbst, Head of Communications and Press Spokesman for the Smart Factory KL technology initiative in Kaiserslautern, Marco Dutenstädter, Business Development Robotics at vacuum technology, automation and handling specialist J. Schmalz, Patrick Hantschel, Director Digitalization Center and responsible for Corporate Foresight, Research and Development at Wittenstein, and Markus Berghammer, Director International Business Development Factory Automation at Phoenix Contact Electronics, discussed whether Germany can still be saved as a business location. The conclusion of the panel was unanimous: Yes! Because there are good prospects, the best conditions and a lot of potential. The business location is by no means on the brink of collapse. But: There is a lot to do on many levels! The panel participants agreed that the players in the economy need more freedom to develop innovative strength. The country has "great minds", "great research" and is "super networked". Now we need to show more courage, revive the pioneering spirit and make use of existing opportunities. It is also important not to always have the safe haven in mind, but to be prepared to fail. So let's put an end to "German Angst" - this slowing mixture of discouragement, hesitation, fear of the future and a need for security. "Optimism is a must," warned Marco Dutenstädter.

... there is still a lot to do, preferably together

The panel also agreed that the focus on education, training and cooperation in various areas must be strengthened. The attractiveness of natural science subjects should also be further strengthened. Above all, it is important to tackle problems together with partners. "To do this, it is necessary to create trust and be open. We need a mindset that enables openness and cooperation without being in competition," stated Ingo Herbst. "Certain things can only be implemented in a consortium, and then only on an equal footing."

Sustainability versus profitability

Creating added value from data, creating added value from cooperation and using the existing technological potential - the future of Germany as a business location can be successful if committed and courageous experts join forces, maintain their partner networks and work towards goals in a solution-oriented manner. This is how Andreas Mühlbauer summarized the discussion. However, not without the final question of whether the principle of sustainability is compatible with economic activity at all.

Patrick Hantschel emphasized: "Unfortunately, the pursuit of profit maximization and international competition are at odds with sustainability. Our companies need freedom, speed and investment in order to strengthen Germany's innovative power. We have excellent skilled workers in Germany, who are a major lever of our innovative strength." Marco Dutenstädter added: "We need to adapt working methods, think in terms of processes and take concrete steps, even if they are small at first." Cycles must be established and resources must be used consciously, then sustainability and profitability are not mutually exclusive.

Of course, the balancing act remains and must be mastered on a daily basis - always with a view beyond the horizon to the social horizon. After all, customers around the world are also increasingly paying attention to whether manufacturers observe the principles of sustainability. In this respect, sustainable production is an aspect of market position and ultimately competitiveness.