Profi-Bot moves quietly across the floor. On two large and one small wheel, it travels down the aisle in the training workshop at Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles (VWN) in Hanover. With its two headlights, it appears to be inspecting the bases of the workbenches. From a distance, the robot is reminiscent of R2-D2, the little robot from “Star Wars.” But its autonomy isn’t quite as advanced as that of the movie star. Tim Ostermeier stands at a man-sized control unit. The apprentice operates Profi-Bot via Wi-Fi. Little by little, he and his fellow apprentices are teaching it new skills.
In this way, Tim Ostermeier is also acquiring new skills. The 20-year-old and his 27 colleagues, who are also training to become mechatronics technicians at VWN, are being taught entirely new training content. The same applies to the 42 apprentices in the field of automation electronics.
“We have to teach the apprentices the skills that will be needed at the plant in the future. With Profi-Bot, we’re teaching the basics of autonomous transport systems,” explains Andreas Strasser, Tim’s instructor. New demands are being placed on the production halls, and this will become even more pronounced in the future.
Walter Deterding, a member of the works council and deputy spokesperson for the education committee, puts it this way: “Until now, machines and robots have functioned as closed units. Soon we’ll have entire halls working together as a single system.”
This depends on data flows—that is, communication between the systems and robots. “And, of course, understanding between humans and machines is crucial here. Young apprentices must develop a holistic understanding of how organizations work.” These are the demands of digitalization. Industry 4.0 —this buzzword refers to networked data processing and transmission in production halls. However, the term also describes the emergence of entirely new production processes and technologies. There is much for the next generation to learn.
Vocational Training Is Being Modernized
Walter Deterding is one of the experts currently preparing the reorganization of the framework curricula. Volkswagen, in cooperation with the Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training, is developing proposals for the future of vocational training in Germany. This is a lengthy process. In the meantime, new content is already being taught at Volkswagen in Hanover and at other locations. Centralized plant monitoring, for example, 3D design and printing, radio-frequency identification (RFID) for the control, monitoring, and documentation of individual parts, or 3D environmental sensor technology—a technology that is already built into the Profi-Bot.
Or what’s known as “virtual commissioning.” Niklas Henkel and Jannik Schramke sit in front of screens and begin planning a high-bay warehouse and the associated conveyor belts on the computer. “This way, they can see right away whether it will work later on,” explains Andreas Strasser.
The screen interface looks like something out of a realistic video game—which is why this new way of learning is also called “gamification.” “When we let the apprentices in in the morning, they sit down at the computers and start programming their systems even before class begins,” says Strasser, delighted by the motivated mechatronics technicians.
Mechatronics Engineers Instead of Nerds
“Generally speaking, the goal is to strengthen professions like mechatronics engineering and not to devalue them,” says Walter Deterding, setting the tone. Otherwise, he warns, there would eventually be nothing but computer nerds who no longer understand systems and their mechanical-electronic interrelationships. No one should fall by the wayside amid these changes. “People must remain at the center of attention and receive the necessary continuing education as needed,” says the works council member.
However, digitalization will also make its way into other apprenticeship programs. For warehouse logistics specialists and business-related professions, the integration is already in the works. Looking ahead, all apprenticeship programs at the Hanover site will be realigned. Digitalization and the ever-faster pace of change are issues that today’s apprentices will have to grapple with throughout their entire professional lives. Everyone responsible for training at VWN is convinced of this.
Tim Ostermeier has one more goal: He wants to teach Profi-Bot to be controlled via a smartphone or tablet. That’s a lot of work. If he doesn’t have enough time, he’ll pass this idea on to the next apprentice, who will then take care of the robot.
