DEVELOPMENT OF A TECHNOLOGY ROADMAP FOR THE PRODUCTION INHIGH-WAGE COUNTRIES

摘要

To remain competitive in the future and to ensure long-term success, manufacturing companies fromrnhigh-wage countries must focus on future markets and must have the ability to produce the rightrnproduct at the right time. In today’s global economy, it is necessary to develop the underlyingrnproduction technologies and methodologies in order to achieve sustainable competitive advantages.rnThe so called ?Polylemma of Production? describes the most important challenges for manufacturingrncompanies from high-wage countries, namely the two dichotomies economies of scale versusrneconomies of scope as well as planning orientation versus value orientation. In order to focus onrnimportant research and technology development activities, technology foresight and especiallyrnroadmapping as a distinctive method supporting strategic decision-making, become relevant. Thus, arntechnology roadmap for advanced production technologies and approaches has been developed,rnencountering the challenges which manufacturing companies in high-wage countries have to face. Onrnthe one hand, the roadmap provides an overview about relevant technologies and their technologicalrnreadiness. On the other hand, the roadmapping process aims at identifying relevant trends,rntechnological developments and research challenges in order to align research activities within thernCluster of Excellence ?Integrative production technology for high-wage countries? with relevant andrnup-to-date topics. In this paper we report on results and key findings of the roadmapping processrnincluding a survey focussing on Germany’s manufacturing industry.