AGILE

AGILE manufacturing for competitiveness and product innovation

Sector

Smart Manufacturing

Product/Objective

The AGILE project arises from the discussions within the Veneto system of companies and research organizations, and from a post-emergency perspective, identifies as its strategic approach the capacity for an "agile" reconversion of production systems through the application of advanced solutions for product innovation. It forms part of the "Smart Manufacturing" specialization strategy.
This is an "industrial reaction" to the COVID-19 emergency, built on flexibility, reconversion and resilience, positioning it as part of the broader scope of business competitiveness based on Industry 4.0.
The AGILE approach is based on several "lessons learned":

1. Competitiveness: to enable quick product innovation and adapt production systems accordingly.
2. Reaction to emergency situations: the ability to rely on a structured, integrated, easily reconfigurable system.
3. Quality in an agile production system: to apply innovative remote monitoring methods supported by artificial intelligence and certification
4. 'AGILE' reconfiguration: to compete on equal aspects of quality/functionality and work safety standards.

Project Summary

The project develops solutions and tools for Agile Manufacturing for competitiveness and product innovation by addressing four development areas: (1) the virtualization of the design phase, (2) the development and industrialization of advanced and rapid production technologies, (3) rapid reconfiguration and optimization of production lines and (4) intelligent quality management.
The AGILE Project operates within specific and representative types of production lines:

• aluminum alloy and cast-iron foundry;
• profiling of aluminum alloys;
• assembly of welded components, in different materials

The enabling technologies used by the project are:

• Advanced Manufacturing Systems (virtualization of the design phase; advanced and rapid manufacturing technologies; rapid conversion and optimization of production lines, design and production; intelligent quality management)
• Advanced Materials (production of high-performance light alloys and cast iron; use of components made by additive manufacturing; use of innovative powders to optimize tool life)
• Nanotechnologies (production of nanostructured powders for tools; nano-scale characterization of material surfaces).

Innovation

The extent of innovation can be outlined with reference to the AGILE activity areas.
1) Virtualization of the design phase to manage and optimize the design chain: integration and customization of systems, in relation to the characteristics of the production cycles;
2) Development and industrialization of advanced and rapid production technologies;
3) Rapid reconfiguration and optimization of the seven production lines to manage variations in products and lots; KPIs and OEEs will be introduced to ensure the flexibility of the company’s entire production system;
4) Intelligent quality management: production monitoring and control systems that use predictive quality models to intervene in almost real time; increased product traceability to achieve digital certification.

ES Role

EnginSoft’s role as the only engineering company in the partnership, is fundamental and transversal to address the digitalization of production lines. In particular, following the study of advanced solutions for agile manufacturing, the multi-disciplinary skills and solutions proposed by EnginSoft contribute to the Virtualization of the design phase; Rapid reconfiguration and optimization of production lines; and intelligent quality management.

Partners: The project partners are members of the Italian SINFONET and M3NET Regional Innovation Networks
ZANARDI FONDERIE SpA, ECOR INTERNATIONAL SpA, SAEN Srl, AM TEKNOSTAMPI SpA, DELKA Srl, PROMOTOEC LSMC Srl, MBN SpA, UNILAB Srl, ENGINSOFT SpA, GOM Italia Srl, CNR ICMATE, UNIVERSITA' DI PADOVA con i Dipartimenti DTG e DII

Funding Scheme POR - Obiettivo "Incremento dell'attività di innovazione delle imprese" - Parte FESR fondo europeo di sviluppo regionale 2014 - 2020

“Progetto finanziato con il POR FESR 2014-2020 Regione del Veneto” - ASSE 1 “RICERCA, SVILUPPO TECNOLOGICO E INNOVAZIONE” AZIONE 1.1.4 “Sostegno alle attività collaborative di R&S per lo sviluppo di nuove tecnologie sostenibili, di nuovi prodotti e servizi”
ERDF European Regional Development Fund 2014 - 2020

Importo finanziamento: € 1.413.985,00 / Grant Amount: € 1.702.983,50