The trends that will dominate the wiring harness branch in 2020

Krailling, January 14, 2020 – DiIT, a specialist for integrated software systems used in wiring harness production, details four developments that will have a significant impact on manufacturers of wiring harnesses in the coming year.

Autonomous driving and the increasing electrification of vehicles not only bring stricter safety and quality requirements for manufacturers of wiring harnesses – they are also confronted with new types of wiring harnesses as well. Below, DiIT highlights four of the key trends that will be seen in the industry in 2020 as a result.

  1. Increasing complexity and miniaturization require automation. As vehicles are increasingly being fitted out with electric parts and IT components, an increasing number of highly specialized wiring harnesses are required. These harnesses are characterized by their complexity and an increasing degree of miniaturization. These two challenges can only be met with the help of special machines. As a result, more and more manufacturers of wiring harnesses for the automotive industry will be using machines that have been designed specifically for the automated processing of wires and cables – such as transfer lines, for example.
  2. High-voltage manufacturing poses a dual challenge. A similar effect can be seen in the 48 V wiring harnesses for hybrid vehicles and electric vehicles. The production of these high-voltage systems means manufacturers are faced with a challenge on two fronts. On one hand, they have to get to grips with a new technology. On the other hand, 48 V systems are still usually only manufactured in small batches. The strict safety standards associated with this technology coupled with the need for economic production demands highly automated, digitized manufacturing.
  3. Increasing integration of condition monitoring in traceability systems. In order to meet the increasing quality demands set by vehicle manufacturers, manufacturers of wiring harnesses are already integrating traceability systems into their solutions. In the event of a problem, these allow the causes to be identified quickly and immediate, targeted product recalls to be started. Using this system, increasingly complex information will now be captured from the machines and their environment, including factors such as vibration, noise, lux and CO2. Disturbances can then be anticipated and quality defects prevented in advance.
  4. The branch is striving for urgently required interface standards. Uniform interface standards are absolutely essential when it comes to digitization in the wiring harness industry. Only in this way can machines be connected quickly and efficiently to superordinate software systems for the documentation and control of production – such as manufacturing execution systems (MES), for example. The goal must therefore be for manufacturers to equip all machines with TCP/IP network technology and to then take this further by supporting uniform interfaces. An ideal candidate for a standard of this kind is OPC Unified Architecture (OPC UA).

“2020 will be an exciting, challenging year for the wiring harness industry. The branch is currently experiencing fundamental change that will continue at an increasing pace in future,” explains Bernd Jost, managing director of DiIT GmbH. “The focus here is on the automation of processes and the use of software for controlling and documenting these processes. Investment by the branch still remains largely subdued here, but this is something that must – and will – change in future.”

 

About DiIT

DiIT GmbH, based in Krailling near Munich, is the world’s leading provider of integrated software solutions for manufacturing execution (MES), customized wire harness production and logistics. DiIT‘s competencies are bundled in the “4Wire Solutions” software suite, which is primarily used for the production of wire harnesses and wiring systems in the automotive industry and other industrial sectors. By digitalizing the value chains, the company‘s innovative software optimizes and controls complex manufacturing and logistics processes and supports quality assurance and traceability. DiIT was founded in 1990 and has a subsidiary in Berlin. DiIT is also represented in the key markets Mexico and China. The company offers a comprehensive services package to both large and small customers which covers consulting, project management and customized implementation and training. The DiIT support line is available during 24 hours and 365 days. DiIT is a wholly-owned, independently managed company of the Schleuniger Group. Schleuniger is a globally active technology company and a leading solution supplier in the wire processing industry.

More information:
Patricia Lange
DiIT GmbH
Justus-von-Liebig-Ring 11a
D-82152 Krailling
Tel.: +49 89 8932500
info@diit.de