At this year's SPS, SCALE-MX was represented on the Technology Stage with a panel discussion and a keynote address by the consortium leaders, Dr. Angelina Marko and Dr. Marc Hüske.

In his keynote address, Dr. Marc Hüske highlighted the benefits of secure data exchange within the industrial data ecosystem and demonstrated how service-oriented value creation can be achieved in mechanical engineering and among component manufacturers within the Manufacturing-X framework, as well as the specific advantages that sharing information via a data room provides in this context. He clearly explains that connected supply and value chains are crucial for the resilience and competitiveness of industry, and that only a scalable data infrastructure can deliver fast, secure, and efficient processes in global supply chains.

During the panel discussion moderated by Dr. Angelina Marko, the specific benefits and added value of Manufacturing-X were examined in terms of collaboration, efficiency, and innovation. It was also clearly emphasized that data rooms serve as a key driver of efficiency in international supply and value chains, thereby fostering new business models, resilience, sustainability, and interoperability. It is important for SMEs to address current challenges through collaboration, innovation, and digitalization, and to utilize the data room for this purpose. It is crucial for companies to rethink their approach and deliver digital data alongside the product. “Nowadays, it is not enough to simply be a machine builder; the machine builder must become a digital data champion to operate successfully in the market,” said Christian Lindemann, VDI TZ. The panelists agree: Manufacturing-X has clearly gained momentum and is in the home stretch. Data technology is ready, and everything is in place for the next step toward practical implementation. Dr. Angelina Marko emphasizes the importance of SMEs beginning to view their data as a product and a source of value.

In summary, it can be said that now is the right time for small and medium-sized enterprises to address this issue, develop a company-wide data strategy, and actively familiarize themselves with the principles, technologies, and opportunities of Manufacturing-X, as well as the underlying data space architectures. SCALE-MX supports companies in this process with a wide range of services as they move toward a data ecosystem.