Arbeitszentrum

Arbeitszentrum is a term used in German to describe an organizational unit within production and manufacturing. It refers to a work area where a set of related operations is performed at a defined location, using a defined combination of machines, tools, fixtures and personnel. The goal is to process a product or a family of products efficiently by concentrating related tasks, managing flow, and reducing transport and handling.

In production planning and control, an Arbeitszentrum is treated as a master data element with attributes such as capacity, setup (rüst) times, operating times, costs and the products or operations assigned to it. It serves as a basis for capacity planning, scheduling and performance monitoring within a job or production order. By aggregating resources in a center, managers can balance workloads, estimate throughput, and track utilization.

The concept is part of a broader taxonomy that includes workplaces (einzelne Stationen), manufacturing cells (Fertigungszellen) and production lines (Fertigungsstraßen). An Arbeitszentrum may host one or more operations and can be organized to support flow-shop or job-shop approaches, often forming the building blocks of a cell or line.

Typical examples include a CNC machining center as an Arbeitszentrum, a mounting or assembly cell, and a testing or inspection station. In addition to the technical interpretation, the term is used in the social and labor market context to denote facilities in which workers, including those with disabilities, perform supervised tasks to gain employment and training.

Successful use of Arbeitszentren requires careful layout planning, clear process plans, accurate capacity data and integration with ERP systems to support scheduling, costing and continuous improvement.