Structured Track & Trace Use Case Development in Collaborative Industry 4.0 Research Projects

Abstract

Collaborative research projects in the context of Industry 4.0 present unique challenges and opportunities, particularly when engaging multiple corporate partners with diverse objectives. This article presents a structured method for collecting, analyzing, and clustering corporate use cases within large consortium projects to address shared challenges and leverage synergies. The approach includes initial use case canvases, on-site interviews, and a standardized questionnaire to gather context-specific details. These use cases are then clustered into topical groups, such as indoor/outdoor tracking or standardization, while aligning with the companies’ areas of interest. The final assignment of use cases to research partners ensures efficient further development. Results from an ongoing Industry 4.0 research project, illustrate how this process can reduce fragmentation, maximize resource utilization, and accelerate innovation. By systematically identifying and merging similar use cases, project managers can tackle overarching Industry 4.0 challenges in a more scalable, collaborative, and profitable manner.