Projects
To give you an overview of the technologies and application areas in which we have already gained experience, we have compiled information sorted by field of application:
RAG-Based Chatbot
Our AI-powered chatbot transforms our wiki, and yours as well, into an interactive, context-based answer platform. State-of-the-art embedding and vectorization technologies enable all employees to retrieve the knowledge they need in natural language - comprehensively, efficiently, and in multiple languages.
Key benefits at a glance:
- Straightforward knowledge discovery
- Intuitive queries in natural language
- Automatic understanding and translation into many common languages
- Individually scalable to any wiki content
Munich Airport Terminal 2 - Baggage Handling System (MUC)
The most important tasks included Oracle database tuning, installation, updates, and support via remote maintenance and on site. The work covered both the implementation of interfaces to HOST systems and subordinate controllers as well as the creation of various data warehouse reports (throughput, load profiles, ...). A special feature of this project was the use of Oracle 9i under a high-availability solution from Marathon.
Base Software for Baggage Handling Systems at Airports (BaggageBase)
In this project we were initially jointly responsible, and later primarily responsible, for the database design as well as the installation and configuration of the Oracle database in the Windows cold failover cluster. At the same time, several larger business logic components and interfaces to other systems (such as dialog system, transport, and visualization) were implemented as PL/SQL packages. Within this project, we were also able to demonstrate the benefits of virtualization with VMware to the customer, mainly in development and testing, and provide corresponding systems.
This software is used, among others, at the following airports, all of which were implemented with our involvement:
- Beijing Capital International Airport Terminal 3 (China)
- Incheon International Airport Phase 2 (South Korea)
- Dubai International Airport Terminal 3 (United Arab Emirates)
- Wuhan Tianhe International Airport (China)
- Siemens Airport Center (Germany, Bislohe, test and demo system)
Beijing Capital International Airport Terminal 3 (PEK)
This baggage handling system was implemented and configured based on BaggageBase. In this project we were responsible for the database design, i.e. for implementing the project-specific adjustments in the DB model. A special feature of this project, in addition to the deadline pressure caused by the Olympic Games, was the use of ORACLE Dataguard under HP-UX to implement a warm standby system (Physical Standby Database).
We played a major role in its conception and implementation. Among other things, the ORACLE Grid Control management tool (version 10g) was installed and the entire standby database environment was configured. We were also on site several times during this project.
Incheon International Airport Phase 2 (ICN)
This baggage handling system, like the system in Beijing, was implemented and configured based on BaggageBase. In this project we were jointly responsible for implementing the project-specific adjustments in the DB model. Another focus was the development, testing, and commissioning of transport components (C++ programs) and the configuration of the transport system.
A special feature of this project was the use of ORACLE Dataguard under Windows 2003 Server to implement a warm standby system (Physical Standby Database). We played a major role in its conception and implementation; among other things, the ORACLE Grid Control management tool (version 10g) was installed. We were also on site several times during this project.
DHL Express
As part of this project, the Standard Autosort Tier1 Software (SATS) was developed for DHL Express and forms the basis for more than 50 DHL Express facilities worldwide. In particular, the largest facilities in CVG, BRU, LEJ, SIN, and HKG use this software. Our main activities were support in the ORACLE environment (PL/SQL development, DB architecture, and tuning), C++ development, and Java development for the Kubernetes microservices. MagicDraw, PowerDesigner, SQLDeveloper, and IntelliJ were used for the largely model-based development. SVN and GIT were used as source control systems.
Through this many-year collaboration, we have developed extensive expertise in the parcel logistics environment.
Deutsche POST - 40K
As part of this project, a new Sort Control System (SCS) was developed for Deutsche POST to enable a parcel throughput of 40,000 parcels per hour (40K). The system is currently in use in a distribution center and was developed exclusively in Java and PL/SQL. Our main activities are currently support in the ORACLE environment, including PL/SQL development, DB design, installation, patches, and tuning.
Swiss POST - REMA (Reengineering Mailprocessing)
As part of this project, three new mail distribution centers were developed for Swiss POST. Our main activities are currently support in the ORACLE environment, including tuning, DB design, patch installation, PL/SQL, Java HOST interfaces, and APEX IBS dialogs for the MHS (Material Handling System).
Finnish POST - ITELLA
As part of this project, four new letter and parcel distribution centers are being developed for Finnish POST. Our main activities are currently the development of transport control components in C++ and the database design.
The logistics chain, consisting of a whole series of individual applications, is primarily used to document all materials entering the production process. The systems integrate supplier material data (barcodes, XML) with order data from SAP systems (MQ, barcodes) and, at the end of the chain, with process data from various types of equipment. In brief, further central functions include:
- Material orders from production to internal warehouses
- Management of internal warehouses, especially cold stores
- Material releases at container level
- Feedback of billing data to SAP systems
- Monitoring of material processing times and storage times at container level, including mapping of processing-time-relevant production steps
- Documentation of cycle runs of components in different types of equipment (e.g. autoclaves), including logging of cycle progress
- Configurable, transaction-safe data transport between distributed systems
- 3D barcodes as primary information carriers in production
The software components used include several Oracle Enterprise Servers, a number of Windows services, and currently six frontend applications with up to 100 concurrent users. The use of traditional client-server technology has proven successful; deployment is easy to manage thanks to terminal servers. Business transactions are encapsulated in Oracle backend modules.
We have been able to support this project conceptually from the beginning and have steadily expanded and updated the individual modules in many partial steps. We continue to provide advisory support, develop the system further together in a consistent manner, and perform maintenance work.
PRP40
PPS system for aircraft parts production:
- Production planning based on delivery dates
- Consideration of different rankings during planning, calculated from the general delivery plan, the required production sequence, and completion time
- Fine-grained, calendar-accurate consideration of absences due to public holidays, vacations, expected sickness absences, T-Zug, ...
- Forecasts for the number of required plant employees
- Planning for multiple sites including their public holidays, bridge days, and plant closure days
- Rate simulation at cost center level for any year
- Calculation of several scenarios possible, which was very helpful during the Covid pandemic
JASS
Web application for calculating hourly rates of various cost centers within Airbus:
- SSO authentication
- Data loading via CSV import
- Consideration of internal and external costs
- Consideration of material and labor costs
- Consideration of allocated costs
- Rate simulation at cost center level for any year
- Validations and plausibility checks
- Export of results
Campus Software - the Tool for Modern Training
Conception and implementation of a learning platform that helps both trainees and training managers handle all work related to training as efficiently and user-friendly as possible.
Core features include:
- Create and book courses
- Create trainees and training managers with import capability from Active Directory
- Create appointments and book rooms
- Create events
- View hours based on actual appointments
- Provide documents for course participants to download
TEK Database - a Tool for Capacity Planning
As part of this project, an existing legacy application (Excel) was replaced by a modern J2EE web application used worldwide. This made it possible to achieve, among others, the following important goals:
- Validated, convenient entry of planning-relevant key figures such as cycle times, scrap, utilization rates, ...
- Simplification of controlling through new reports and charts based on data stored centrally in the Oracle database
- Modern look & feel (Web 2.0)
- Integration into the existing Bosch landscape (cloud, portal, SSO), providing standardization and high availability
SchuMan
SchuMan is a web application in the Airbus intranet. Development began in 2000 for the Airbus plant in Stade; later, the system was also introduced at the Hamburg-Finkenwerder, Bremen, Nordenham, Varel, and Augsburg plants. Today, further development is mainly driven by the Augsburg plant.
SchuMan was born out of the need for employees working in quality assurance to acquire or prove certain qualifications before they can be authorized for specific activities. The program is therefore primarily software for training management, which is also where the name comes from. It allows training topics to be defined, dates to be scheduled, and employees to be registered for the training sessions. The system thus provides an overview of which employee has attended or will attend which training courses.
Different training measures can be combined into qualification profiles that can be assigned to an employee. This makes it possible to determine in the development plan for each employee which training they still need to complete for a specific qualification profile. For each authorization, the required qualification profiles are recorded as prerequisites, so authorizations can be assigned exactly when an employee has fulfilled the necessary qualification profiles.
OnlineForms
Similar to SchuMan, OnlineForms is a web application. In OnlineForms, forms can be filled out and edited online. The forms can be created directly in OnlineForms. A workflow is stored together with the forms and is followed during the approval of an application. When an application is submitted, the responsible clerk or supervisor automatically receives an email showing the application and allowing them to process it directly from there.
TKS Bochum Hot Wide Strip Mill
We had already been involved in the creation and commissioning of the software in 1997 and 1998, at that time in the form of the material tracking and primary data management subsystems. When hardware support expired after 10 years, the old process computers had to be replaced by new ones, which required the software to be adapted. In addition to adapting the C++ source code to new operating system and compiler versions, further changes were required, namely migrating the CORBA ORB used from Orbix to the open-source product TAO and converting the visualization system from SiiX to WinCC. We carried out this work completely for programs in the so-called non-control part. In October 2008, the old process computer was finally replaced.
AluNorf Hot Rolling Mill 2
As with TKS in Bochum, there was also a prior history at AluNorf: the process automation of hot rolling mill 1 (1998 - 1999), where our employees had developed both core components of the so-called non-control part, namely material tracking and measured value processing. This software was ported for hot rolling mill 2 and adapted to the differing requirements.