Fertigungen

Fertigung is the process of converting raw materials into finished products through planned, controlled, and repeatable production operations. It is a core area of industrial engineering and manufacturing, bridging product design and logistics. Fertigung includes planning, scheduling, machining, assembly, and finishing operations, as well as quality assurance and warehouse management. The goal is to produce the desired quantity of products with defined specifications at the lowest total cost and with the required lead time.

Types: Production forms describe how work is organized on the shop floor. Werkstattfertigung organizes small-volume, varied production in functional workshops; Serienfertigung produces in moderately large, repeatable lots; Stückfertigung dedicates resources to single items; Fließfertigung uses continuous or highly automated lines for high-volume output. In many industries, combination approaches, such as mixed-flow or cellular manufacturing, are used to balance flexibility and efficiency.

Processes: The German classification of manufacturing processes includes Urformen (forming of shapes from materials), Umformen (changing shape), Trennen (removing material), Fügen (joining parts), Ändern von Stoffeigenschaften (altering chemical properties or characteristics), and Beschichten (coating). These groups describe the main methods used to create or modify parts.

Digitalization: Modern Fertigung increasingly uses digital planning and control systems (ERP, MES, CAD/CAM), robotics, and sensors, aligning with Industry 4.0. Sustainability and circular economy considerations influence materials, energy use, and end-of-life recovery.

Fertigung is closely linked to fields such as mechanical engineering, automotive, electronics, and consumer goods. In German-speaking contexts, Fertigungstechnik denotes the technical discipline focused on optimizing production processes.