Project Duration: 01.08.2024 – 30.01.2027 | Project Partners: Fraunhofer Institute for Casting, Composite and Processing Technology (IGCV), Institute of Production Systems and Logistics (IFA) at Leibniz University Hannover, Society for the Promotion of Applied Computer Science (GFaI) | Project Advisory Committee: Hirschvogel Group, software4production, AEP, Contact Software | Funded by: Bavarian State Ministry of Economic Affairs, Regional Development and Energy
Objective
PePPS develops a method for assessing the potential of energy-oriented production planning and control for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The aim is the holistic modeling of the costs and benefits of energy flexibility.
A user-friendly demonstrator is intended to enable SMEs to identify energy flexibility measures (EFM) and quantify their effects ex ante – even before implementation takes place.
Results
The PePPS methodology combines approaches for the logistical modeling of production processes with energy and cost modeling. A multidisciplinary approach is pursued that holistically evaluates both the effects on logistical performance indicators and on energy costs and energy consumption. The demonstrator developed enables SMEs to virtually test various energy flexibility measures and analyze their economic and operational consequences in advance.
This allows SMEs to make well-founded decisions: Which measures are worthwhile? Where are the greatest savings potentials? How do flexible production schedules affect delivery reliability and throughput? The approach takes into account rising energy costs, energy policy conditions and the so far limited adoption of energy flexibility in SMEs.
Industrial Benefit
Energy costs represent a growing cost factor for many SMEs – while at the same time there is pressure to decarbonize. So far, however, a practical tool to systematically assess energy flexibility in the context of production planning and control has been lacking. PePPS closes this gap with a method that brings together technical, logistical and economic perspectives.
Through PePPS, SMEs gain the ability to specifically plan energy flexibility measures such as load shifting, switch-off times or restart times without jeopardizing production targets. This opens up savings potential in electricity procurement costs, improves the CO2 footprint and makes production more resilient to price fluctuations on the energy market.
Significance
PePPS expands the expertise of software4production in the field of energy-value-oriented production planning and control. As the S4P representative on the project advisory committee, we contribute our PPS expertise directly to the project and support the development from a corporate perspective.
The results of PePPS feed into the further development of S4P solutions for APS (Advanced Planning and Scheduling) – in particular into the possibility of considering energy criteria as a planning dimension alongside classic objectives such as throughput and delivery reliability. The project strengthens S4P's position as a provider of APS solutions with holistic consideration of sustainability and economic efficiency.
Publications
Publications related to this project can be found under Publications.
Are you interested in energy-efficient PPS? Contact us – together we will discuss how PePPS can optimize your production.