Resilient Rapid Reconfigurable Production Process Chains

Activity Leader

Xanthi Bampoula

Business Development and Innovation Manager

EIT Manufacturing South East

About the project

R3GROUP will deploy reconfiguration strategies integrating technological, social and economic innovations to build a digital reference architecture and tools for resilient production. The project will comply with standardised Industry 4.0 interfaces and protocols. 

Challenges

The manufacturing environment is changing. This is characterised by aggressive competition on a global scale and rapid changes in process technology. In response, businesses need to develop production systems that are easily upgradable and into which new technologies and new functions can be readily integrated. 

Solutions

R3GROUP will leverage the six reconfigurability principles to advance technologies across five key pillars, fostering resilience through reconfigurability. This involves developing an Azure Analysis Services (AAS)-enabled platform for seamless horizontal and vertical integrability, alongside pioneering production tools aligned with the reconfigurable machine tool concept.  

A digital toolkit will be deployed to swiftly assess reconfiguration impacts using multi-level digital twins. Additionally, innovative tools will be integrated to detect reconfiguration triggers, providing real-time awareness of the entire value chain’s status, including supply chain and market conditions. Comprehensive multi-level monitoring, control and quality assessment mechanisms will be employed to minimise the impacts of reconfiguration. 

Expected results

The project is expected to benefit manufacturing processes because it will implement advanced reconfigurability and digitalisation technologies.  

Expected results include:  

• up to a 30% reduction in capital expenditure (CAPEX) for new markets,  

• a 20-35% decrease in reconfiguration times  

• improvements in overall equipment efficiency (OEE). 

Additionally, scrap rates, lead times and material consumption will decrease, while quality control and production flexibility will improve.  

By integrating digital twins, modular tooling, laser-based manufacturing and advanced data analytics, the project will enhance decision-making, optimise production and promote sustainable practices across various industries. 

Participants