The objective of the EU project CloudiFacturing is to optimize production processes via a digital marketplace. The project is aimed at small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). They will be provided with state-of-the-art and complex modeling and simulation software via the cloud. "Given the fact that less than 25 percent of SMEs in Europe use modern information and communication technology, the current project has a clear political objective. 'Cloudification services' are paving the way for the digitalization of the manufacturing industry," says Prof. Dr.-Ing. André Stork, head of the Interactive Engineering Technologies department at the Fraunhofer Institute for Computer Graphics Research IGD, which is leading and coordinating the project.

Digitization for SMEs

Affordable access to complex tools on high-performance computers should also make it possible for smaller companies to digitize their own production processes. It is now possible to use a wealth of data from ongoing production operations via the cloud as a stimulus for high-performance analysis tools. The result is much more precise simulation results of the manufacturing process. The starting point for companies to improve their competitiveness while at the same time conserving resources.

Suggestions for application experiments wanted

CloudiFacturing is open to companies from all over the EU. The project sponsor has been seeking proposals for so-called application experiments via the current Open Call since July 1. These are sub-projects limited to one year that fit the objectives of CloudiFacturing. The following are preferred: the simulation of production processes, the use of operating data as a basis for optimization and projects that aim to improve processes and/or the producibility of products.

Participants can be manufacturing SMEs, independent software providers, consulting companies, research institutions and providers of high-performance computing services. An experiment should be submitted by two to five partners of different orientation and from different countries. Up to 100,000 euros in funding will be awarded per experiment. The proposals will be accepted and evaluated by so-called Digital Innovation Hubs.

The project sponsor has a lot to offer: The most important thing is the existing vendor-neutral cloud infrastructure. The experiments can be based on this. Desirable side effect: each new experiment usually adds another useful facet to the service offering. Alternatively, intellectual property can be protected by individual agreements if desired. Project support comes from the Digital Innovation Hubs with the experience of more than 30 completed experiments. Participating companies have the opportunity to gain valuable experience with high-performance computers and cloud computing through their experiment. They can optimize their manufacturing processes through more realistic simulation results. The experiment opens up new perspectives on cloud-based business models. CloudiFacturing's digital marketplace is also a promising sales channel.

CloudiFacturing is a current European Innovation Action IA as part of the Public Private Partnership Factories of the Future FoF. The joint project with a total of 34 partners from various European countries follows on from the successful EU projects CloudFlow and cloudSME and is led by Fraunhofer IGD in Darmstadt. as