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Exchanging
DATA
The supply chain ’ s supply chain needs integrating . It ’ s finally starting to happen .
By Daniel Krampe
Factory-X boils down to improving production fundamentals to minimize downtime and keep factories running more efficiently .
Manufacturing supply chain integration typically evokes the exchange of data about materials , components , subassemblies , and final products as they take shape for the marketplace . Another dimension of supply chain integration gets less attention : the exchange of data to improve the efficiency , flexibility , and operation of the factory equipment that makes those products . That is , the integration of the supply chain that creates the supply chain .
There ’ s a consortium for that . Factory-X , funded by the German Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate action , involves 56 companies , associations , and research institutions . They ’ re focusing on 11 use cases . While some have to do with supply chain traceability and integration as more commonly understood , several of those use cases are about improving shop-floor operations through better data exchange among those who make , set up , operate , upgrade , and maintain the systems and machines of that let manufacturers live up to their names .
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