Trade Journals for the Concrete Industry

A number of developments have been observed that point towards still further automation in production facilities where blocks and slabs are manufactured from concrete. Pavers are being increasingly produced “fully automatically” by means of programme-controlled sequences in circulation systems. Staff expertise has also improved as they have to retain detailed knowledge of these sequences in order to master the processes that belong to their sphere of responsibility. An operator, who in the past merely had to take care of individual machines, can only fulfil these new tasks with appropriate qualifications. A process-oriented view of production sequences has become increasingly linked to this automation with all its complexity. With a view to attaining a reduction in complexity, processes are represented as process models with hierarchically structured levels in which the first level represents the overall process e.g. a circulation manufacturing system (Fig.1). Sub-processes can be formulated at other levels. This development must also bear in mind the implementation of safety protection concepts in industrial practice. A broader process-oriented approach is to be recommended.