DUALIS and Centre Integrated Business Applications Collaborate on Pioneering Research Project

Synergistic Collaboration: Optimizing Production Planning & Scheduling and Material Flow Simulation

• DUALIS Joins CIBA to Drive Innovation in Production Planning and Material Flow Simulation to realise an event-driven integration platform at Demonstrationsfabrik Aachen GmbH (DFA)

Dresden, 27 April 2024 – DUALIS GmbH IT Solution has become a member of the Centre for Integrated Business Applications (CIBA). This collaboration aims to develop future-proof IT systems and empower manufacturing companies to increase their value proposition. DUALIS brings expertise in Advanced Planning and Scheduling (APS) and 3D simulation to the table. The first joint research project will focus on advancing the event-driven integration platform at Demonstrationsfabrik Aachen GmbH (DFA) through relevant use cases. The goal is to make DFA’s data ecosystem openly accessible to enrolled members in the future.

The future of manufacturing hinges on integrated systems that create high-performance IT landscapes. The Centre for Integrated Business Applications works to design these systems for economic and value-added production, while also promoting ecological and social sustainability with inclusive value creation for all participating companies.

“Through this partnership, we aim to collaborate with CIBA on cutting-edge topics and research areas within DUALIS’ core competencies – production planning & scheduling and material flow simulation,” says Heike Wilson, Managing Director of DUALIS GmbH IT Solution. “The exchange with CIBA experts on trends like artificial intelligence and sustainability is invaluable for DUALIS. Additionally, we gain access to CIBA’s resources, including the Innovation Lab and the real-world production environment at Demonstration Factory Aachen (DFA). This allows us to test and validate new products and concepts.”

CIBA Expands Industrial Focus with DUALIS

CIBA benefits from the exchange with DUALIS’ team specializing in production planning and optimization software. Furthermore, Heike Wilson’s role on the FIR e. V. research advisory board brings relevant topics to the FIR ecosystem, which CIBA is part of.

“DUALIS is a leading company in APS software, and we’re excited to have them on board,” says Katharina Berwing, Centre Manager of CIBA. “Together, we’ll focus on optimizing production environments. DUALIS’ expertise helps us identify real-world challenges and develop solutions with tangible added value for industry through our innovation projects.” By participating in research projects, DUALIS can incorporate these insights into its product development at an early stage, ensuring its portfolio remains aligned with evolving production company needs.

Research Project: Event-Driven Integration Platform

A core objective of CIBA is to define and implement R&D projects with its member community and partner institutes at RWTH Aachen University. CIBA’s close ties to RWTH Aachen University’s FIR research activities enable the transfer of industry challenges and trends into projects and studies at the center, fostering the development of industry-focused solutions.

“Complex system landscapes necessitate modular system solutions for efficient development, maintenance, and control,” says Heike Wilson. “Event-driven IT architectures provide a future-proof approach for sustainable digitalization in manufacturing. Therefore, one of our initial projects will involve using relevant use cases to solidify the ongoing development of the event-driven integration platform at Demonstration Factory Aachen. This will ultimately make DFA’s data ecosystem openly usable for enrolled members.”

An event-driven microservice architecture (EDA) allows independent systems from different business areas to collaborate with minimal coordination. These systems are designed to react to events (actions, state changes, user interactions) instead of waiting for requests.

“Overall, EDA facilitates the development of highly responsive, scalable, and flexible systems – ideal for the intricate system landscapes common in manufacturing. This translates to faster response times and personalized services,” explains Heike Wilson. “The research project offers members access to a robust data ecosystem, serving as a blueprint for industrial companies.”