Research Project of Aachen University Combines Assembly Network Charts and Logistics Control

The machine tool laboratory (WZL) of the RWTH Aachen university in Germany, is developing a new method to generate logistics-oriented assembly charts for machine and plant engineering using VARCHART XNet and XTree.

The assembly charts are modeled using VARCHART XNet and thus provide the flexibility of IT supported scheduling to the assembly procedure. VARCHART XTree visualizes the bill of material of the product to be assembled which is stored in ERP system.

A link-up between VARCHART XNet and XTree developed by the WZL allows to allocate the material of the bill directly to single assembly tasks. For the first time, material supply dates can dynamically be adjusted to the progress of assembly. The connection to ERP systems is enabled by an Enterprise Service Bus (OpenESB) which is based on web service.

The project group is testing “adaptive logistics” in the industrial enterprises of Deckel Maho Gildemeister AG (machine tools) and Koenig & Bauer AG (printing machines). It is  promoted by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research of Germany.