In principle the implementation concept will depend on the company-specific circumstances. Here we merely want to present you a rough, general course of action:
Definition/conception phase
Definition of a strategic aim, which is effective company-wide and as concrete as possible, e.g. implementation of 10 new products over the next 5 years, start-up - reaching maximum production capacity according to SOP in 4 instead of 10 weeks
Identification of the affected business processes
Detailed analysis and documentation of the processes, unless already in place
Determination of the improvement potentials and obstacles for achievement of the aims
Prioritisation of the potentials
Appraisal of the affected projects, systems, organisation as well as possible suppliers or partners
Setting up an implementation plan
Ascertainment of the required personnel and financial resources (budget) as well as all required qualifications
Development of a cost-benefit calculation
Decision on project kick-off
Creating qualifications
Selecting the project team - appointing internal and external project partners
Project schedule development (sub-projects, milestones/deadlines, resources)
Specification of standards (project management, IT, documentation etc.)
Establishing the IT-substructures
Development of a communication concept
Implementation stage 1
Development of concrete measures to tap the potentials
Ascertainment of the correct methods and tools as well as best practices
Determination of the qualifications for the implementation of these methods and tools
Establishing the foundations for the processes, e.g. closing information and data gaps
Selection of software and development partners
Launch of pilot projects regarding established methods of the Digital Factory for the purpose of evaluating the benefit for the own company
Cost-benefit analysis of the pilot projects
Implementation stage 2
Step-by-step application of the new methods and tools in a concrete development project (partially parallel project execution according to new and old methods in case of measures fraught with risk)
Development of a central data model
Customising of applied standard software / development of company-specific functions
Rolling out the new methods and tools via the affected process
Instruction and on-the-job training for employees
Cost-benefit analysis
Decision on the extension of the Digital Factory to further processes, projects, plants (implementation stage 3)
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