Product Development Process
The Product Development Process research is mostly carried out at The Institute for Production Technology and Systems (IPTS) within the Leuphana School of Management and Technology. It is strategically structured to holistically map the product development process through its established professorships.
Starting from the specified product requirements (concerning design, properties, sustainability et cetera), the initial question is which materials can be processed in an energy and resource efficient, yet economically viable manner using various processes. After an economically and sustainably viable manufacturing route has been designed, it is necessary to optimize the internal physical material flow and design the inter-company supply chains.
This issue is addressed through the targeted design of manufacturing processes (such as forming, machining, additive manufacturing and more) and the corresponding process chains, in close coordination with the model-based prediction and description of material properties to precisely adjust product characteristics. This is particularly supported by the strategic partnership with the Helmholtz Center Hereon.
Research Area
Throughout the technological and logistical processes for product development, a variety of data is generated at different stages. These must be captured by suitable intelligent sensors and measurement technology and processed for control purposes. This data, in turn, provides a fundamental basis for enhancing the efficiency of technological and logistical processes. Furthermore, the data can be used to optimize the actual technological production processes – even during ongoing operations.
Additionally, these data can serve as practical data (for instance, for validation) for simulating technological and logistical processes and for redesigning the internal supply chain and cross-company production networks.
Overall, through the networking of the IPTS’s professorships via close collaborations with the Helmholtz Center Hereon, the Institute of Information Systems, and the Faculty of Sustainability, a modern, resilient, and sustainable production chain can be realized in the spirit of Industry 4.0.