Work Science Competence Center for Gainful Employment in Industry 4.0 in the Aachen Region

 

The phase-out of coal-fired power generation is resulting in significant structural changes in the Rhenish mining area, which are also leading to structural change in the Aachen region. In order to cope with this change, the "Work Science Competence Center for Gainful Employment in Industry 4.0 in the Aachen Region" is researching the introduction and implementation of Industry 4.0 concepts and technologies for SMEs in the Aachen region in a way that is appropriate for people. In doing so, companies are to be supported in productively using innovative technologies, such as AI, to increase their competitiveness and thus secure and create jobs.

Despite their enormous potential, AI applications in particular have so far been used by only a few companies in the region. A lack of know-how and reservations regarding the effects and benefits for companies and their employees can be cited as causes for this. This results in a great need for support in the development and introduction of new technologies as well as the investigation of the so social and work-scientific consequences.

The overall objective of the project is to establish, test and stabilize the competence center. The approach is divided into three central areas:

• Infrastructure: development of a distributed mixed reality model factory for experiencing, testing and further developing Industry 4.0 technologies, as well as the implementation of a central, open knowledge platform
• Networking: Establishing the exchange of local actors, clusters and institutions for joint knowledge transfer
• Methods: Work science evaluation methods and work design strategies for the humane use of technologies