Digitalization offers enormous potential for production and logistics - but how can companies move from theory to efficient implementation?
Dr. Michael Nikolaides, Head of Production Network and Logistics at BMW Group, provides exclusive insights into BMW’s latest AI and robotics applications. Discover how smart automation enhances efficiency and takes production and logistics processes to the next level.
In addition, Dr. Nikolaides will share insights on BMW’s first fully automated large-scale intralogistics operations - a major milestone on the road to the smart factory.

Existing for 110 years, the Mercedes-Benz plant in Sindelfingen is one of the most traditional vehicle plants of the brand with the star. With around 35.000 employees, the location is the region's largest and most important employer. To ensure that this remains the case, the plant is experiencing its greatest challenge to date – the transformation towards a fully electric driven future. In addition to vehicle production, the company's research and development department is located within the factory premises. Sindelfingen often takes a pioneering role in testing innovative technologies first in series production before their roll-out in the global production network. A radiant lighthouse for this pioneering role is Factory56, which opened in 2019 – the birthplace of the Mercedes-Benz S-Class, the Mercedes-Maybach S-Class and the all-electric EQS. Thanks to its technological standards, it is considered one of the most modern production facilities worldwide and is furthermore sustainably designed. Besides digitalization and sustainability, flexibility is the most important key to successful production of the future. In her keynote speech, plant manager Sara Gielen will show how the Sindelfingen plant plays a pioneering role for the entire industry without forgetting its traditions.

In a time of rapid technological advancement, digitalization in production is essential for maintaining competitiveness, enhancing efficiency, and ensuring high-quality outcomes. In his presentation, COO Arno Güllering delves into the holistic, company-wide digital transformation program at the DRÄXLMAIER Group that serves as the backbone for advancements in manufacturing as well as steering. Central to this transformation is MES2, the modern Manufacturing Execution System, which enhances production efficiency and transparency. This is complemented by the digitalization of the shopfloor, and additionally the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI). These innovative digital solutions all together are essential tools used at the DRÄXLMAIER Group in order to further optimize processes and better control quality. 

Valeo next generation planning approach and its influence on business and team education

Digital data is everywhere in today’s automotive plants—yet much of it remains locked in PLM, MES and diagnostics silos. Production engineers and operators still shuffle Excel exports and email threads, losing up to 70 % of their day piecing together E/E and software information instead of boosting OEE and first-pass yield. 

Philipp Noll, Co-Founder of SPREAD, will show along practical case examples how an open Engineering-information model converts the typically scattered data into a live Product Twin of every vehicle on the line. On this foundation, AI-powered apps such as E/E Inspector, Action Tower and Upskilling Coach slash fault-diagnosis time by 75 %, recover extra vehicles per shift, and deliver multi-million-euro quality gains—laying the groundwork for SDV-ready, human-centric factories.

Discover how to successfully drive change through AI-based image processing in the automotive production landscape. This keynote will delve into the systematic, extensive, and sustainable integration of Industrial Computer Vision (ICV) within a large OEM's production network, while sharing crucial lessons for anybody looking to establish AI-driven solutions in production successfully. The development and systematic implementation of Audi' s latest ICV initiative is spearheaded by their Digital Solutions Team in Production and Logistics, who have recently won the automotiveIT Team Award for their innovative approach in the Smart Factory category. Insights from this brand-overarching project will be shared, diving into the technological development, strategic insights and success stories while also sharing lessons learned regarding overcoming real-world challenges and creating collaborative solutions. 

Join us on 15.05.2025 to learn how ICV can transform the industry and drive future success, while gathering first-hand insights on driving AI-driven transformation in production. 

Porsche stands for emotional sports cars, innovative technologies and a unique brand experience. Regarding production at its home site in Zuffenhausen and at its Leipzig plant, Porsche relies on the best of both worlds: a high level of automation for the highest manufacturing quality on the one hand and a manufacture character through the manual refinement of exclusive sports cars on the other. Porsche is consistently expanding the fully networked factory, the "Smart Factory", using artificial intelligence and cloud solutions. Long-term partnerships with innovation drivers and successful subsidiaries play an important role for Porsche Production and Logistics in shaping the factory of the future. However, people remain the decisive factor for Porsche: a pioneering spirit and the courage to break new ground form the basis for Porsche production to successfully shape the transformation of the automotive industry.

Daimler Truck is driving the transformation of the transportation industry towards CO2-neutral drive systems and is also focusing on e-trucks in its own supply chain. Mercedes-Benz Trucks, with its production sites in Gaggenau, Kassel, Mannheim and Wörth, is pursuing the ambitious goal of fully electrifying delivery traffic with production material in its own freight responsibility. Together with its freight logistics partners, the company is working to gradually replace daily deliveries to Mercedes-Benz truck plants with electric trucks. A significant part of the direct supply chain will thus become emission-free locally. In his keynote, Jürgen Distl will provide insights into how Mercedes-Benz Trucks is decarbonizing its products and production as well as its inbound logistics at the Wörth plant, the largest location in the production network.

The automotive industry faces increasing challenges in supply chain management, from volatile demand and complex global supplier networks to the need for real-time data integration. ifm Supply Chain Excellence provides a seamless, SAP-integrated solution that enables efficient demand planning, optimized procurement, and real-time shop floor connectivity. By leveraging digitalization and automation, manufacturers gain full transparency over their supply chain, reduce inventory costs, and enhance production efficiency. Our on-stack approach within SAP’s digital core ensures maximum performance without external interfaces, making real-time data access a reality. Discover how ifm Supply Chain Excellence helps automotive manufacturers build resilient, future-proof supply chains and drive operational excellence in an increasingly complex market.