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Lubricant-free



       Automation could deliver                                            made easy


       time savings of up to


       25% says new study




             he European 4.0 Transforma-  “In most cases, customers and
             tion Center (E4TC) at Aachen   partners have little involvement in these
             University in Germany has   process  steps,”  explained  E4TC
       Tinvestigated the strategic digit-  managing director Dr Thomas Gartzen.
       isation of design and control engineering   “This means that companies have
       and the technical layout of machines   complete control over optimising the
       and plant systems.           steps to achieve time and cost savings
         The study evaluates the use of CAE   through  standardisation  and
       (computer aided engineering) software   automation.”
       as a basic prerequisite for Engineering
       4.0 and concludes that engineering  Efficiency evaluation
       companies could achieve time savings   The path to higher efficiencies in the
       of up to 25% by partially automating   value chain is mapped out using
       engineering processes.       traditional  methods,  going  from
         The researchers at E4TC in Aachen,   standardisation through to automation.
       initially introduced a model of the   To be able to evaluate the efficiency of
       engineering workflow and created an   each work step, the study scaled the
       evaluation matrix with five efficiency   workflow methodology in five stages –
       levels.                      where the efficiency level (eLevel) of
         The “Efficiency Level” matrix   engineering can be evaluated.
       contains detailed descriptions of the   Using the collected data, the
       methodology/workflow  and  is   scientists concluded that engineering
       accompanied by a “Use Level” matrix,   companies can become 20% more
       which describes and evaluates the use   efficient from eLevel to eLevel and that
       of CAE software as a basic prerequisite   device-oriented working methods bring
       for Engineering 4.0.         a 25% time saving for schematic
                                    creation.
       Process steps                   These time savings, which result
       A total of ten process steps for   from the use of CAE systems, translate
       engineering in machine manufacturing   into  cost  reductions  that  can
       were examined, such as engineering,   significantly enhance profitability.
       design, bills of material, reports, control   The study, which evaluates the use
       cabinet layout, devices and templates.   of CAE software such as the one from
       The engineering workflow model   EPLAN, can be freely downloaded at:
       generated contained the typical work   discover.eplan.co.uk/engineering-4.0
                                                                           ... and easily
       steps of the ordering cycle.    MORE INFORMATION: www..eplan.co.uk
                     GRAPH OF ENGINEERING EFFICIENCY
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       May/June 2020 • INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY
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