Identify - Quantify - Obtain Qualifications for Virtual Commissioning

Manufacturers are forced to be flexible and efficient at the same time. Digitalisation initiatives, such as Industry 4.0, and changeable manufacturing systems may enable manufacturers to cope with the fluctuating demand and frequently alteration of product variants. However, the frequent change and reconfiguration lead to time-consuming and costly commissioning phases, mainly due to software errors. Virtual commissioning enables faster and cheaper commissioning by testing the software in a virtual environment before the physical commissioning. Despite the benefits, virtual commissioning is not widely used in the industry because of the lack of robust methods and technical qualifications.

This doctoral dissertation firstly exam how education programs and industry can raise awareness about Industry 4.0 using serious learning game. Secondly, this thesis explores how virtual commissioning qualification (skills and knowledge) can be identified, mapped, and quantified. Lastly, an investigation of how a tool for classification and actions support for the reconfiguration process in-between two configurations of a changeable manufacturing system.