Project AutoOPP 2.0: Increasing efficiency in the procurement and manufacturing of components

Automatic recognition of the work plan based on design data (AutoOPP 2.0)

Major industries such as mechanical engineering, automotive engineering, and vehicle manufacturing make up the manufacturing sector, one of Germany's largest industrial sectors. The companies operating in this sector either manufacture technical components themselves or have them manufactured by suppliers based on design data. The most cost-effective manufacturing method depends largely on the design, possible manufacturing processes, and the number of units to be produced. The market knowledge of the players involved, i.e., which company can manufacture which component using which process at what price, is usually incomplete. Determining how and, therefore, which company can manufacture a component most cost-effectively on the market is still very time-consuming.

Goals and approach

The goal of the AutoOPP 2.0 joint project is to develop an AI methodology that can be used to automatically derive the appropriate manufacturing processes and the cost-optimized work plan from 2D and 3D design data of components. The individual manufacturing steps, the classification and interaction of manufacturing parts in assemblies, and other factors such as the respective quantities are to be taken into account. Active learning methods are being incorporated to improve model quality.

Innovations and perspectives

AutoOPP 2.0 aims to automate knowledge-intensive processes in key industrial sectors using AI methods and to lay the foundations for intelligent solutions that support manufacturing technologists and technical purchasing. The project results are to be integrated into a B2B platform and accompanied by broad scientific dissemination. For example, the effort involved in make-or-buy decisions can be significantly reduced and the compatibility of incoming order requests for manufacturing companies can be increased. In important but small-scale industries, the results contribute to greater market transparency, which has a positive effect on the overall economy in terms of higher efficiency.

Funding information: The project AutoOPP 2.0, which will run from March 2023 to April 2025, is funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research. 

Project coordination: PartSpace (Easy2Parts GmbH)  

Project partner: Deggendorf Institute of Technology