Fraunhofer Institute for Material Flow and Logistics IMLThe currency of the future
Everything starts with an idea. Every problem that has to be solved, every innovation that makes our everyday life easier today was only an idea at the beginning. At the DB Schenker Enterprise Lab, people are aware of the importance of ideas and therefore treat them as the currency of the future. The whole setup and all processes at the Enterprise Lab at Fraunhofer IML in Dortmund are designed to develop ideas and promote collaboration. The 75,000 employees of the long-standing company, founded in 1872, are not the only ones encouraged to identify problems and make suggestions. The logistics service provider looks for solutions of the future beyond the confines of its own industry as well. This interface is precisely where the “Enterprise Lab for Logistics and Digitization,” established in 2015, comes in.
The lab itself is divided into three levels that are each staffed by employees of DB Schenker and Fraunhofer IML: the advisory board consisting of Prof. Michael ten Hompel, executive director of Fraunhofer IML, and three other members, the steering committee with six members and the lab management with six members as well. In the individual projects, special expertise is pooled and recombined in each sub-step. This ensures that commercial, organizational and scientific expertise is ideally distributed.
“During the eight years of collaboration, we have been able to continually adapt the lab structure in order to provide the ideal framework for collaboration between industry and science. Even though we have clear competences The currency of the future as a research institute and DB Schenker as a logistics service provider, we go each step of the way together. This is reflected very nicely by the equal distribution of members in the committees,” explains Benjamin Korth, member of the lab management.
How it all started
When the group was looking around for a research and development partner in 2014, Fraunhofer IML stood out due to its versatility. The logistics institute combined workshops, test halls and an excellent infrastructure with expert knowledge from a wide variety of disciplines – from engineering to economics. During the eight years of cooperation, this combined expertise has made it possible to implement 50 projects, 9 of which have now found their way into DB Schenker’s everyday logistics operation. One great success story of the lab is the digital training in the packing area and for forklift drivers. In the past, these used to be paper-intensive training courses on specific processes and safety guidelines, but they have now been transformed into digital training with the help of the lab. By using an uncomplicated computer training course and virtual reality goggles, the partners were able to reduce the training period of employees and increase staff satisfaction. Processes are taught in a playful manner – which provides more safety because warehouses and packing areas are not entered until after training has been completed.
»During the eight years of collaboration, we have been able to continually adapt the lab structure in order to provide the ideal framework for collaboration between industry and science.«
Benjamin Korth
In addition, DB Schenker and Fraunhofer IML have achieved successes at interfaces that establish an entirely new business model for the logistics giant. One example is the introduction of a lab project that has surprised everyone: 3D prin - ting. DB Schenker was the first logistics service provi - der in the world to offer a 3D printing service. In the process, the company has received orders for medical products, robot parts or even packaging materials. The key feature: DB Schen - ker does not do the printing itself but instead relies on a digital business model that promotes cooperation with corresponding companies. Instead of putting up with enormous trans - port costs, some required goods can now simply be prin - ted and delivered via DB Schenker. In addition to purely technical projects, sci - entific progress is also advanced. Four doctoral positions have already been filled within the lab partner - ship. In addition, three vision papers have been successful - ly published.