About us

© Ludmilla Parsyak, Fraunhofer IAO

We bring the future to life

Digitalization is revolutionizing not just the work that takes place in production halls, but the processes and services that are indirectly connected with it as well. New technologies bring with them new questions: Where is work headed? Will it be smart machines dictating what is to be done? Or will it be people in charge, supported by smart systems? We are seeing whole new forms of work organization that go far beyond the division of labor to encompass scenarios such as when shift workers are able to spontaneously schedule their working hours via app and smartphone, as already implemented in the prize-winning “KapaflexCy” project.

Maximizing the potential of new technologies

Companies also need new ways with which to qualify their employees for digital working and implement new technologies to maximum effect. It is a chance to boost manufacturing efficiency, but also often brings with it disruptive innovations that transform existing processes and structures. If a company is to thrive long term in this dynamic market environment, it must adopt a systematic approach to innovation processes and embed them within its strategy.

A source of ideas for industry, associations, unions and politics

That is why, under the auspices of the Fraunhofer Institute for Industrial Engineering IAO, we chose to found the Future Work Lab on the research campus in Stuttgart-Vaihingen. The Future Work Lab is an innovation lab geared towards work, people and technology. It pools our expertise in all aspects of Industrie 4.0 and is designed to provide you as a manufacturing company with a place that you can come with any questions you might have about the digitalization of the industrial value creation chain.

 

Demonstrator world showcases the future of work

Our demonstrator world features three individual showcases that illustrate the future of work with a consideration of both the technologies and applications possible today and potential future scenarios for the division of labor between humans and machines.

 

Learning world: “Ready for the future of work”

“Ready for the future of work” is our learning world and offers seminars, workshops and training opportunities for managers, experts and production workers. On top of this, we can jointly develop personalized Industrie 4.0 training solutions for you.

 

World of ideas for research into the work environment

Our world of ideas offers a central platform for scientific dialog and further research into all aspects of production work. We also network with the German and international research communities. Not only does the Future Work Lab provide a point of contact for external partners and research centers, it also offers a base for entirely new research initiatives.

Funding authority

This research and development project is funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) within the Program “Innovations for Tomorrow’s Production, Services, and Work” and managed by the Project Management Agency Karlsruhe (PTKA).

Research partners

Cooperation partners