The Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Engineering and Automation (IPA)

The Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Engineering and Automation (IPA) in Stuttgart belongs to the FRAUNHOFER-GESELLSCHAFT ZUR FOERDERUNG DER ANGEWANDTEN FORSCHUNG E.V. and works in the field of research and development of optimal solutions for the European machinery and supplier industry. Solutions for organizational and technological functions in the production sector of industrial companies form the main areas of research and development work. Fraunhofer IPA led numerous software development processes in industrial and public funded projects. The institute has been coordinator of several FP6 and FP7 funded projects. Furthermore, the institute is active in several European platforms and initiatives and has a leading position in the MANUFUTURE platform and has a broad network of industrial and research partners, which will be used to disseminate the I-RAMP³ results. Fraunhofer IPA currently employs 350 engineers, technicians and administrative staff.

IPA – role and contribution to I-RAMP³

Fraunhofer IPA will contribute to the I-RAMP³ project by bringing its broad knowledge of production planning, automation technology and system integration on the one side and its project experience with SMEs from the machinery industry on the other side. Fraunhofer IPA covers all key elements of ramp-up and intelligent manufacturing approach having experience in planning, modelling, construction and simulation of production systems. Furthermore Fraunhofer IPA will be involved through the following activities and competences: • System architecture for production systems • Knowledge driven production system configuration • Competences on intelligent machines