Factory software is increasingly determining the competitiveness of manufacturing companies. The exclusive consideration of office IT is not sufficient. Rather, all levels of the automation pyramid must be considered – from the company level to the field level. In combination with new technologies, this creates improved possibilities for adapting processes to individual and changing customer requirements quickly and with little effort. In addition to the selection and integration of the innovations in the processes, the main challenges here are the correct handling of the effects, namely in the three areas of people, technology and organization.

The two-day factory software congress offered the opportunity to obtain comprehensive information on the subject and to talk to experts. While on the first day the finalists of the „Factory Software of the Year“ competition decided the winners in a public presentation, on the second day visitors could experience exciting lectures on innovative and future-orientated applications of factory software in companies.