Learning, networking, shaping the future – review of a meeting of the Work Group Rhein-Ruhr
On December 3, 2024, the ICV Work Group Rhein-Ruhr met on the premises of the Infor Group in Düsseldorf. In addition to three interesting keynote speeches, the change in the WG management was made: Rhein-Ruhr succeeded Alexander Großhäuser (since 10/2015).
Price escalation clauses in the industrial environment
Alexander Großhäuser showed how companies can deal with volatile prices for raw materials and energy. Transparent models that simulate the effects of changing purchase prices on manufacturing costs can be used to find customer solutions that create stability and predictability. The exchange between the participants showed how differently companies deal with these challenges and which approaches have already been successful.
AI as a topic for the future
In the afternoon, the focus was on artificial intelligence (AI). Frank Schlote from Infor introduced the participants to the far-reaching possibilities of AI. Although AI is considered a technology of the future, German companies are still lagging behind when it comes to its introduction. The discussion made it clear that the correct training of employees in dealing with AI – especially with generative AI such as large language models – is crucial.
Sebastian Fleischmann from Vaillant supplemented this insight with specific practical examples. His team has developed AI applications that make the company’s products more user-friendly and energy-saving. For example, AI can be used to identify inefficient usage patterns and optimize the operation of heating systems – a clear added value for end customers and the environment. The discussion about other fields of application, such as prescriptive maintenance, showed how versatile AI can already be used today.
Closing with setting the course
At the end of the day, the leadership of the Work Group was officially handed over to Elisabeth Herrle – a successful day full of new insights and impulses.
Key Learnings:
Price escalation clauses
- Agreement of price escalation clauses with customers in order to be able to pass on volatile price developments, e.g. for raw materials or energy (in the case of energy-intensive production) to customers
- Models must be developed that simulate the effects of changing purchase prices on manufacturing costs
- These models should be discussed transparently with customers in order to reach an agreement.
Artificial intelligence
- Artificial intelligence has become an integral part of everyday (future) working life, and there are many fields of application
- However, companies in Germany are still lagging behind in the use of AI; many companies want to use AI in the future or are at least thinking about it
- Training employees in the correct handling of generative AI in particular (e.g. large language models) will play a key role; example: what information do I need to feed into an LLM to get the result in the desired form?
- Vaillant, for example, has implemented an entire data science team that implements AI applications; the aim is to use AI to make the company’s products even more user-friendly and energy-saving for the end consumer, e.g. AI can detect inefficiencies and usage patterns, optimize the operation of a heating system and save energy for the end customer
- Further fields of application for AI, such as prescriptive maintenance, were discussed
- However, the regulatory environment must be taken into account when introducing AI
This Work Group’s meeting also showed impressively how much potential there is in the combination of learning, exchange and innovation. The ICV Work Groups are places where knowledge is not only shared, but also developed further together.
WG Rhein-Ruhr – Elisabeth Herrle