Field of Work
Sustainability is the driving force behind innovation. The production paradigm of the future, in Germany especially, will be closely linked to the issue of sustainability. Production will be holistic in how it is conceived and assessed: the existing strategy of pure efficiency will in future be enhanced by a new effectivity strategy. The emphasis will be on doing the right thing rather than continuing to optimize the wrong thing. This will require the large-scale use of innovative and sustainable technologies and materials as well holistic changes to our systems of production, use and recycling. The paradigm change will affect all production factors – energy, material and human resources as well as finance IT, planning and control. This change is the driving force behind our research and expertise.
The institutes directed by Prof. Bauernhansl realize innovative solutions for sustainable productions in the industrial sectors of the future in Germany as a technology base, promoting specialist expertise and interdisciplinary collaboration among staff as the driving force behind qualitative growth. The aim is to strengthen the partners’ competitive lead.
Personal Information
Prof. Thomas Bauernhansl has been the director of the tradition-steeped Institute for Factory Operation and Automation (IFF) at the University of Stuttgart and the Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Engineering and Automation (IPA) since 2011. Born in Miltenberg/Franconia, in 1969, he studied mechanical engineering at RWTH Aachen and worked as a research assistant there from 1999 to 2002. During this period he was involved in industry and research projects as well as leading the “Process and Technology Planning” group, the “Integrated Product Design” department and from 2002 the “Corporate Development” department. In 2002 Bauernhansl gained his doctorate with a dissertation on “The evaluation of synergies in mechanical engineering”. From 2003 to 2011 he held various positions at Freudenberg KG, including manager of the plant and tooling technology division and head of the technology center for sealing and vibration technology, and he was also head of global process technology, with responsibility for production as a whole.
Contact
Prof. Thomas Bauernhansl
University of Stuttgart
Institute of Industrial Manufacturing and Management (IFF)
Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Engineering and Automation IPA in Stuttgart
Tel.: +49 711/ 970-1101
E-Mail
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