Tangible benefits:

•Productivity increased by up to 30%•Modular solutions of any size•Complete modular system of software

modules•Rapid response to new trends and

customer requirements•Less capital commitment•Reduction in revolving stock•Less space required in production•Efficiency and transparency in data

structures and sequences•Efficient machines, efficient sequences,

efficient software, efficient production!

Networked production

Furniture production on the way to industry 4.0

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Albert Nopp, Technical Manager, Hali Office Furniture“We are running an unmanned production process in batch size 1 with the shortest changeover gap in the world. Our production process is label-free and we have seen a 30% increase in capacity while still deploying the same workforce. When it comes to machine technology and software, we have a partner who can achieve anything; a partner that implemented everything we had hoped for, and ensured that the solution worked. We are proud of this achievement.”

Dr. Rolf K. Hallstein, Managing Director of Sedus Systems“We need to move away from mass production and towards the manufacture of products that meet individual customer requirements and I think networked production will really help us to make this transition.”

Manfred Schwellinger, Member of the ALNO Management Board“Companies who do not implement this concept of networked production in the future will face a significant competitive disadvantage. The benefits are not just apparent in industry, but in trade too. The fact that customer requirements are increasing while the pool of skilled professionals is constantly shrinking means that this sector needs to completely rethink the way it works. Entering the world of networked production is the key to ensuring success in the future.”

You can find more information at: networked.homag.com

A video on the topic:www.homag-group.com/networked

The HOMAG Group already fulfils many of the criteria of the Industry 4.0 vision. In recent years, our

customers in the furniture industry have implemented a number of networked production concepts. This has

enabled furniture manufacturers in trade and industry to produce millions of furniture designs and minimize

delivery times using our fully networked and highly flexible batch size 1 systems. Looking to the future, it

is clear that the level of networking will continue to grow until the Industry 4.0 vision is achieved. With this

in mind, all companies within the HOMAG Group are working hard with partners, suppliers and customers

to harmonize interfaces and enable end-to-end communication. At the same time, the HOMAG Group is

lending its experience and expertise to a wide range of research projects established by the German federal

government to make the Industry 4.0 vision a reality in the near future.

The HOMAG Group on the way to Industry 4.0.

Industry 4.0 — A vision becomes a reality.

Digitization and networking of production even beyond the boundaries of companies and

countries — this is the core idea behind the Industry 4.0 vision. The aim of the fourth industrial

revolution — after steam engines, conveyors and automated production lines — is to enable a

wide range of units to communicate with one another in the future and, eventually, even organize

themselves. Today, machines in fully networked production already know precisely where each

component is required at a specific point in time, how the component is to be processed, what

the quality standards are and where bottlenecks may occur in storage. For this to work, all

components involved in the production process, including machines, units, handling systems and

storage systems, independently communicate with one another via sensors and networks.

The factory of the future

Fully networked production around the world means that production can respond to changes in the market, customer requirements and external influences in an extremely flexible manner — constantly interacting with suppliers, partners, sales departments and customers.

How can companies produce in a more energy and resource-efficient way? Where can raw materials be purchased for a low price and where could delivery bottlenecks occur? Networked production systems, while responding to the results of these questions, also continuously optimize products on the basis of customer feedback and adapt them to requirements.

This constant exchange of information creates a production process that continuously organizes and optimizes itself, with intelligent products, machines and resources controlling each other. In this kind of process, consistent interfaces and standards for the exchange of data are essential.

With these measures in place, the fusing of the digital world and real world become reality: Industry 4.0 is born.

Networked production

Fully networking mechanics, electronics and data means that end products can be highly individual — and therefore meet customers’ continuously changing requirements — in a cost-effective manner and in batch size 1. A change requested by the customer can be implemented even during ongoing production — without the process being slowed down.

It is already apparent that the trend toward individual living spaces as a place of relaxation will continue to grow in importance. In particular, furniture manufacturers are focusing their production more heavily on the individual home requirements of end customers. The following pages give an insight into what awaits us and what is already possible today with networked production by the HOMAG Group.

• Shorter innovation cycles• More complex products• Larger volumes of data

• Energy and resource efficiency as decisive competitive factors

Increase competitiveness

• Customized mass production

• Volatile markets• High productivity

Reduce time-to-market

Increase efficiency

Increase flexibility

Machine manufacturers

Virtual reality

Partners

Suppliers

Production locations

Market

Intelligent factory

Individual customer requirementsDigitization

Web-based sales solutions

Networked production

The Internet of Things

Industry 1.0The mechanical weaving loom, water and steam power.

1784 1870 1969

Industry 2.0First production line. Mass production using electrical energy.

Industry 3.0First programmable logic controller (PLC). Use of electronics and IT for further automation.

Industry 4.0Based on cyber- physical systems (linking real objects with information- processing/virtual objects and processes via information networks [e.g. the Internet]).

Industry 4.0: All areas involved in the process are interlinked globally via standardized interfaces.

© HOMAG Group

HOMAG Group Networked production 32 HOMAG Group Networked production

“Failure to implement intelligent, networked production in Germany means sitting on growth potential of 20% to 30%.” — Roland Berger, Strategy Consultants

“Companies who do not keep themselves up to date with the latest developments in an informed and active manner may soon be left behind.” — Dr. Volkmar Denner, Chairman of the Board of Management, Bosch

“The German federal government is also actively promoting innovation to equip us for the future. Industry 4.0 is centered on intelligent processes and products. It is all about horizontal and vertical integration in dynamic value creation networks, digital engineering continuity throughout the entire value creation chain — in other words, intelligently networked production.” — Dr. Georg Schütte, State Secretary at the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research

Today

Optimally networked, with people taking center stage.

Networked production means individual production that is as efficient as possible and adapted

to the customer’s requirements. It is essential that all components involved in the production

process communicate with one another. A central production control system organizes and

monitors the flows of information. People are the key success factor: People make sure that

production runs smoothly and bring their experience to the table. People are the only universal

sensor that we know; people are indispensable as decision makers in factories. Not everything

can be automated — and employees continue to be a key part of production.

Networked production: Already a reality with the HOMAG Group

ecoPlus — Technology that really pays off

Efficient work, increase in productivity, reduction in the amount of energy and resources consumed — with ecoPlus, you can save up to 30%.

MMR (Machine Monitoring & Reporting)

MMR is a diagnostic system to analyze and optimize production (cause and effect relationship). It supplies evaluations of machine data on all levels: unit, machine and cell. The advantages: Increased productivity, availability and flexibility.

HOMAG Group Networked production 54 HOMAG Group Networked production

powerTouch — Machine operation via a touch screen

Easy to operate — just like a smartphone: The standardized powerTouch operating system and powerControl control technology guarantee an optimum manufacturing process across all networked machines.

Production control system

A higher-level, intelligent production control system interlinks planning, production and the material flow. This means that the correct information always goes precisely where it is needed, exactly when it is needed. The production control system takes over control of the processes and provides specific and targeted data from the work preparation stage for the production stage.

Sales (point of sale)

How do you know what a piece of furniture will look like in your own home before you have bought it? Using the latest apps and the camera function on their smartphone, end users can position their customized furniture virtually in their home, turning furniture designs into something they can actively visualize. A quotation for the furniture is provided and the customer can order the item straight away — all via the app and the Internet.

Order processing

Order processing ensures that the furniture or parts to be manufactured are clearly recorded and defined. Parts lists, pricing and a description are provided for this purpose. The quality of the data is critical to the subsequent processes. All production data is generated efficiently from the order data, within a very short timeframe.

4 Horizontal networking

From suppliers and tool manufacturers to subcontractors and partners along the entire process chain in furniture production, there is absolute transparency. The “intelligent workpiece” passes through production independently, without any errors, efficiently and optimized for speed. In the process, all HOMAG Group units communicate with one another via standardized interfaces. The continued standardization of these interfaces is a central task in the current developments underway in Industry 4.0.

Pioneer of networked production.

The aim of networked production is to produce customized furniture on an industrial scale –

in the most efficient way and at a similar cost to that of mass production. With networked

production, the HOMAG Group offers an end-to-end flow of information. In addition, the

intelligent workpiece plays a role, communicating to machines how it is to be processed. For

this purpose, every workpiece is equipped with a digital identity that contains all specifications

and production parameters.

3 Vertical networking

In the sales area at the POS (point of sale), the customer’s requirements are recorded digitally. As part of internal order processing, this order data is supplemented with additional production data via automated guidelines. The resulting “digital component” is transferred to the machines in production via the production control system. Once there, the component controls the completion of the customized order. Working in this way means that errors as a result of manual intervention can be almost completely eliminated.

The five fundamental elements of networked production:

1 The digital component 2 The intelligent machine 3 Vertical networking 4 Horizontal networking 5 The intelligent workpiece

2 The intelligent machine

The “intelligent machine” controls, monitors and optimizes itself. At the same time, the machine communicates with the production control system and the workpieces to be processed.

1 The digital component

The digital component is clearly distinguished by dimensions, color, shape and processing steps.

The “intelligent workpiece” passes through production bearing all processing data, for example as a barcode or RFID.

5

3 Vertical networking

4 Horizontal networking

CuttingStorage Separating Edge Sorting Drilling Assembly Packaging

HOMAG Group Networked production 76 HOMAG Group Networked production

Sale

Data

Order

Planning

Production control system