Skip to main content

Historical Development, Terminology, and Definition of Learning Factories

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Learning Factories

Abstract

In this chapter, the historical development of the learning factory concept from individual local learning factory approaches from the end of the 1980s to European and finally worldwide associations on the learning factory concept is presented. The term “learning factory” is regularly understood in a different way. This chapter creates the terminology and presents the now generally accepted definition of the learning factory system.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 189.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 249.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Notes

  1. 1.

    See Penn State University (2017).

  2. 2.

    See Jorgensen, Lamancusa, Zayas-Castro, and Ratner (1995), Lamancusa, Zayas, Soyster, Morell, and Jorgensen (2008).

  3. 3.

    German translation of “learning factory”.

  4. 4.

    See Reith (1988).

  5. 5.

    See Alptekin, Pouraghabagher, McQuaid, and Waldorf (2001), Dizon (2000).

  6. 6.

    For examples of teaching factory activities see Alptekin et al. (2001), Dizon (2000) as well as Best Practice Example 20 and Best Practice Example 30 in Chap. 11.

  7. 7.

    See Wagner, AlGeddawy, ElMaraghy, and Müller (2012), Abele et al. (2015), Micheu and Kleindienst (2014).

  8. 8.

    See Abele et al. (2015).

  9. 9.

    See Abele, Eichhorn, and Kuhn (2007).

  10. 10.

    A detailed description of the Process Leaning Factory CiP can be found in the Best Practice Example 26 in Chap. 11.

  11. 11.

    See Abele, Cachay, Heb, and Scheibner (2011) for the proceedings.

  12. 12.

    See also Chap. 10 for a detailed description.

  13. 13.

    The International Academy for Production Engineering.

  14. 14.

    See Abele, Chryssolouris, Sihn, and Seifermann (2014).

  15. 15.

    Abele et al. (2017).

  16. 16.

    See Wagner et al. (2012).

  17. 17.

    Based on Tisch, Hertle, Abele, Metternich, and Tenberg (2015).

  18. 18.

    Roth, Marucheck, Kemp, and Trimbl (1993).

  19. 19.

    Leonard-Barton (1992).

  20. 20.

    See Leonard-Barton (1992), Barton and Delbridge (2001), Roth et al. (1993).

  21. 21.

    See Leonard-Barton (1992).

  22. 22.

    For the learning organization see, for example, (Senge, 1990, Argyris & Schön, 1999).

  23. 23.

    See Barton and Delbridge (2001).

  24. 24.

    See Barton and Delbridge (2001).

  25. 25.

    For this use of the term learning factory see, for example, Bachmann (1986), Beattie (1988), van der Zee (2006), Bögel (2011), McLaren and Jandric (2015), Bichow (2015).

  26. 26.

    See Mavrikios, Papakostas, Mourtzis, and Chryssolouris (2013), Alptekin et al. (2001).

  27. 27.

    See Abele et al. (2015).

  28. 28.

    See, for example, McKinsey & Company (2017).

  29. 29.

    See Jorgensen et al. (1995).

  30. 30.

    See Abele, Tenberg, Wennemer, and Cachay (2010).

  31. 31.

    See Chryssolouris, Mavrikios, and Mourtzis (2013), Chryssolouris, Mavrikios, and Rentzos (2016), Metternich et al. (2014).

  32. 32.

    Information and communication technology.

  33. 33.

    See Wagner et al. (2012).

  34. 34.

    See Tisch et al. (2013).

  35. 35.

    See Tisch et al. (2015).

  36. 36.

    See Sihn (2014).

  37. 37.

    See, e.g., Kreimeier et al. (2014), Müller, Plorin, and Ackermann (2012) or Tracht (2014).

  38. 38.

    See Abele (2016).

  39. 39.

    See Abele et al. (2017).

  40. 40.

    See, for example, Seifermann, Metternich, and Abele (2014).

  41. 41.

    See, for example, Schuh, Gartzen, Rodenhauser, and Marks (2015).

  42. 42.

    See Abele et al. (2017).

  43. 43.

    Abele et al. (2015).

  44. 44.

    See Abele et al. (2007), Jäger, Mayrhofer, Kuhlang, Matyas, and Sihn (2012), Tisch et al. (2013).

  45. 45.

    See Abele et al. (2015), Tisch et al. (2015).

  46. 46.

    See Hempen, Wischniewski, Maschek, Thomas, and Deuse (2010), Lamancusa et al. (2008), Plorin and Müller (2014), Hamid, Masrom, and Salim (2014), Tisch and Metternich (2017).

  47. 47.

    See Tisch et al. (2013).

  48. 48.

    See, for example, Abele et al. (2007), Jorgensen et al. (1995).

  49. 49.

    See, for example, Plorin and Müller (2014), Riffelmacher (2013), Sivard, Eriksson, Florin, Shariatzadeh, and Lindberg (2016), Sivard and Lundholm (2013).

  50. 50.

    See, for example, Hammer (2014).

  51. 51.

    See Knowles (1975).

  52. 52.

    See Piskurich (1993).

  53. 53.

    See Jouault and Seta (2014).

  54. 54.

    See Abele et al. (2015).

  55. 55.

    According to Jank and Meyer (2002) in literal translation of Zierer and Seel (2012).

  56. 56.

    See Hamid et al. (2014), Cachay, Wennemer, Abele, and Tenberg (2012).

  57. 57.

    See Mavrikios et al. (2013), Rentzos, Mavrikios, and Chryssolouris (2015).

References

  • Abele, E. (2016). Learning factory. CIRP Encyclopedia of Production Engineering.

    Google Scholar 

  • Abele, E., Cachay, J., Heb, A., & Scheibner, S. (Eds.). (2011). 1st Conference on Learning Factories, Darmstadt. Darmstadt: Institute of Production Management, Technology and Machine Tools (PTW).

    Google Scholar 

  • Abele, E., Chryssolouris, G., Sihn, W., Metternich, J., ElMaraghy, H. A., Seliger, G., et al. (2017). Learning factories for future oriented research and education in manufacturing. CIRP Annals - Manufacturing Technology, 66(2), 803–826.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Abele, E., Chryssolouris, G., Sihn, W., & Seifermann, S. (2014, January). CIRP collaborative working group – Learning factories for future oriented research and education in manufacturing. CIRP. CIRP Winter Meeting, Paris.

    Google Scholar 

  • Abele, E., Eichhorn, N., & Kuhn, S. (2007). Increase of productivity based on capability building in a learning factory. In Computer Integrated Manufacturing and High Speed Machining: 11th International Conference on Production Engineering, Zagreb, 37–41.

    Google Scholar 

  • Abele, E., Metternich, J., Tisch, M., Chryssolouris, G., Sihn, W., ElMaraghy, H. A., Hummel, V., & Ranz, F. (2015). Learning factories for research, education, and training. In 5th CIRP-Sponsored Conference on Learning Factories, Procedia CIRP, 32, 1–6. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.procir.2015.02.187.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Abele, E., Tenberg, R., Wennemer, J., & Cachay, J. (2010). Kompetenzentwicklung in Lernfabriken für die Produktion. Zeitschrift für wirtschaftlichen Fabrikbetrieb (ZWF), 105(10), 909–913.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Alptekin, S. E., Pouraghabagher R., McQuaid, P., & Waldorf D. (2001). Teaching factory. American Society for Engineering Education, 1–8.

    Google Scholar 

  • Argyris, Chris; Schön, Donald A. (1999). Die lernende organisation. Grundlagen, Methode, Praxis. Stuttgart: Klett-Cotta.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bachmann, R. (1986). Ecology in the school environment. Health Promotion International, 1(3), 325–334. https://doi.org/10.1093/heapro/1.3.325.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Barton, H., & Delbridge, R. (2001). Development in the learning factory: Training human capital. Journal of European Industrial Training, 25(9), 465–472.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Beattie, C. (1988). Studying, taming, and exploiting the micro. Journal of Curriculum Studies, 20(2), 181–188.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bichow, S. (2015). “Verfolgung und Ermordung der Universitätswürde 1968” - Die Studentenproteste an der Christian-Albrechts-Universität. Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel, 622–636.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bögel, R. (2011, July 4). Keine Lernfabrik. Stuttgarter Nachrichten.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cachay, J., Wennemer, J., Abele, E., & Tenberg, R. (2012). Study on action-oriented learning with a learning factory approach. Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences., 55, 1144–1153.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chryssolouris, G. (2014). Definitions of a „Learning Factory“. In E. Abele, G. Chryssolouris, W. Sihn, & S. Seifermann (Eds.), CIRP collaborative working group - Learning factories for future oriented research and education in manufacturing (Vol. 28.08.2014, p. 11). Nantes, France.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chryssolouris, G., Mavrikios, D., & Mourtzis, D. (2013). Manufacturing systems - skills & competencies for the future. In 46th CIRP Conference on Manufacturing Systems. Procedia CIRP, 7, 17–24.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chryssolouris, G., Mavrikios, D., & Rentzos, L. (2016). The teaching factory: A manufacturing education paradigm. In 49th CIRP Conference on Manufacturing Systems. Procedia CIRP, 57, 44–48.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dizon, D. P. (2000). Making social sciences relevant to engineering students: The Greenfield Coalition experience. In Proceedings International Conference on Engineering Education, 1–4.

    Google Scholar 

  • ESB Reutlingen. (2017). NIL network of innovative learning factories. Retrieved from http://www.esb-business-school.de/en/research/research-activities/nil-network-innovative-learning-factories/.

  • Hamid, M. H. M. I., Masrom, M., & Salim, K. R. (2014). Review of learning models for production based education training in technical education. In International Conference on Teaching and Learning in Computing and Engineering, IEEE, 206–211.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hammer, M. (2014, August). Making Operational Transformations Successful with Experiential Learning. CIRP Collaborative Working Group – Learning Factories for future oriented research and education in manufacturing, CIRP General Assembly, Nantes, France.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hempen, S., Wischniewski, S., Maschek, T, & Deuse, J. (2010). Experiential learning in academic education: A teaching concept for efficient work system design. In 14th Workshop of the Special Interest Group on Experimental Interactive Learning in Industrial Management of the IFIP Working Group 5.7, 71–78.

    Google Scholar 

  • IELF. (2013). General assembly of the initiative on European learning factories. München.

    Google Scholar 

  • Initiative on European Learning Factories. (2013). General assembly of the initiative on European learning factories. Munich.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jäger, A., Mayrhofer, W., Kuhlang, P., Matyas, K., & Sihn, W. (2012). The “Learning Factory”: An immersive learning environment for comprehensive and lasting education in industrial engineering. In 16th World Multi-Conference on Systemics, Cybernetics and Informatics, 16(2), 237–242.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jank, W., & Meyer, H. (2002). Didaktische Modelle (5., völlig überarb. Aufl.). Berlin: Cornelsen-Scriptor.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jorgensen, J. E., Lamancusa, J. S., Zayas-Castro, J. L., & Ratner, J. (1995). The learning factory: Curriculum integration of design and manufacturing. In 4th World Conference on Engineering Education, 1–7.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jouault, C., & Seta, K. (2014). Content-dependent question generation for history learning in semantic open learning space. In S. Trausan-Matu, K. Boyer, M. Crosby, & K. Panourgia (Eds.), Intelligent tutoring systems: 12th international conference, ITS 2014, Honolulu, HI, USA (pp. 300–305). Berlin: Springer.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Knowles, M. S. (1975). Self-directed learning: A guide for learners and teachers (4th ed.). New York: Cambridge The Adult Education Comp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kreimeier, D., Morlock, F., Prinz, C., Krückhans, B., Bakir, D. C., & Meier, H. (2014). Holistic learning factories - A concept to train lean management, resource efficiency as well as management and organization improvement skills. In 47th CIRP Conference on Manufacturing Systems. Procedia CIRP, 17, 184–188.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lamancusa, J. S., Zayas, J. L., Soyster, A. L., Morell, L., & Jorgensen, J. E. (2008). The learning factory: Industry-partnered active learning - 2006 Bernard M. Gordon prize lecture. Journal of Engineering Education, 97(1), 5–11.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Leonard-Barton, D. (1992). The factory as a learning laboratory. Sloan Management Review, 34(1), 3–14.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mavrikios, D., Papakostas, N., Mourtzis, D., & Chryssolouris, G. (2013). On industrial learning and training for the factories of the future: A conceptual, cognitive and technology framework. Journal of Intelligent Manufacturing, 24(3), 473–485. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10845-011-0590-9.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McKinsey & Company. (2017). Model factories and offices: Building operations excellence. Retrieved from https://capability-center.mckinsey.com/files/mccn/2017-03/emea_model_factories_brochure_1.pdf.

  • McLaren, P., & Jandric, P. (2015). The critical challenge of networked learning: Using information technologies in the service of humanity. In P. Jandric & D. Boras (Eds.), Critical learning in digital networks (pp. 199–226). Cham, Heidelberg, New York, Dordrecht, London: Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Metternich, J., Abele, E., Chryssolouris, G., Sihn, W., ElMaraghy, H. A., Tracht, K., Tolio, T., Mavrikios, D., Mourtzis, D., Jäger, A., Tisch, M., & Seifermann, S. (2014, August). WP 1: Definitions of “Learning Factories”. CIRP. CIRP Collaborative Working Group – Learning Factories for future oriented research and education in manufacturing, CIRP General Assembly, Nantes, France.

    Google Scholar 

  • Micheu, H.-J., & Kleindienst, M. (2014). Lernfabrik zur praxisorientierten Wissensvermittlung: Moderne Ausbildung im Bereich Maschinenbau und Wirtschaftswissenschaften. Zeitschrift für wirtschaftlichen Fabrikbetrieb (ZWF), 109(6), 403–407.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Müller, E., Plorin, D., & Ackermann, J. (2012). Fachkompetenzentwicklung in der advanced Learning Factory (aLF) als Antwort auf den demografischen Wandel. In E. Müller (Ed.), Demographischer Wandel: Herausforderung für die Arbeits- und Betriebsorganisation der Zukunft (pp. 3–26). Berlin: GITO.

    Google Scholar 

  • Penn State University. (2017). Bernard M. Gordon Learning Factory: We bring the real world into the classroom. Retrieved from http://www.lf.psu.edu/.

  • Piskurich, G. M. (1993). Self-directed learning: A practical guide to design, development, and implementation (1st ed.). Hoboken: Jossey-Bass, A Wiley Brand.

    Google Scholar 

  • Plorin, D., & Müller, E. (2014). Developing an ambient assisted living environment applying the advanced Learning Factory (aLF): A conceptual approach for the practical use in the research project A2LICE. ISAGA, 2013, 69–76.

    Google Scholar 

  • Reith, S. (1988). Außerbetriebliche CIM-Schulung in der „Lernfabrik“. Berlin, Heidelberg: Springer. Retrieved from http://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007%2F978-3-662-01109-6_24.pdf.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Rentzos, L., Mavrikios, D., & Chryssolouris, G. (2015). A two-way knowledge interaction in manufacturing education: The teaching factory. In 5th CIRP-sponsored Conference on Learning Factories, Procedia CIRP, 32, 31–35. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.procir.2015.02.082.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Riffelmacher, P. (2013). Konzeption einer Lernfabrik für die variantenreiche Montage. Dissertation, Stuttgart. Stuttgarter Beiträge zur Produktionsforschung: Vol. 15. Stuttgart: Fraunhofer Verlag.

    Google Scholar 

  • Roth, A. V., Marucheck, A. S., Kemp, A., & Trimbl, D. (1993). The knowledge factory for accelerated learning practices. Strategy & Leadership, 3, 26–46.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schuh, G., Gartzen, T., Rodenhauser, T., & Marks, A. (2015). Promoting work-based learning through Industry 4.0. In 5th CIRP-sponsored Conference on Learning Factories, Procedia CIRP, 32, 82–87. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.procir.2015.02.213.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Seifermann, S., Metternich, J., & Abele, E. (2014, January). Learning Factories – Benefits for Research and exemplary Results. CIRP, CIRP January Meeting, STC-O Technical Presentation, Paris, France.

    Google Scholar 

  • Senge, Peter M. (1990): The fifth discipline. The art and practice of the learning organization. 18th ed. New York, N.Y.: Doubleday/Currency.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sihn, W. (2014). Definitions of a „Learning Factory“. In E. Abele, G. Chryssolouris, W. Sihn, & S. Seifermann (Eds.), CIRP collaborative working group - learning factories for future oriented research and education in manufacturing (Vol. 28.08.2014, p. 12). Nantes, France.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sivard, G., Eriksson, Y., Florin, U., Shariatzadeh, N., & Lindberg, L. (2016). Cross-disciplinary design based on the digital factory as a boundary object. 26th CIRP design conference procedia CIRP, 50, 565–570.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sivard, G., & Lundholm, T. (2013). XPRES - a digital learning factory for adaptive and sustainable manufacturing of future products. In G. Reinhart, P. Schnellbach, C. Hilgert, & S. L. Frank (Eds.), 3rd conference on learning factories, Munich: May 7th, 2013 (pp. 132–154). Augsburg.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tisch, M. (2018). Modellbasierte Methodik zur kompetenzorientierten Gestaltung von Lernfabriken für die schlanke Produktion. Dissertation, Darmstadt. Aachen: Shaker.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tisch, M., Hertle, C., Abele, E., Metternich, J., & Tenberg, R. (2015). Learning factory design: A competency-oriented approach integrating three design levels. International Journal of Computer Integrated Manufacturing, 29(12), 1355–1375. https://doi.org/10.1080/0951192X.2015.1033017.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tisch, M., Hertle, C., Cachay, J., Abele, E., Metternich, J., & Tenberg, R. (2013). A systematic approach on developing action-oriented, competency-based learning factories. In 46th CIRP conference on manufacturing systems. Procedia CIRP, 7, 580–585.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tisch, M., & Metternich, J. (2017). Potentials and limits of learning factories in research, innovation transfer, education, and training. In 7th CIRP-sponsored Conference on Learning Factories. Procedia Manufacturing. (In Press).

    Google Scholar 

  • Tracht, K. (2014). Definitions of a „Learning Factory“. In E. Abele, G. Chryssolouris, W. Sihn, & S. Seifermann (Eds.), CIRP collaborative working group - learning factories for future oriented research and education in manufacturing (Vol. 28.08.2014, p. 12). Nantes, France.

    Google Scholar 

  • Van der Zee, H. (2006). The learning society. International Journal of Lifelong Education, 10(3), 213–230. https://doi.org/10.1080/0260137910100305.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wagner, U., AlGeddawy, T., ElMaraghy, H. A., & Müller, E. (2012). The State-of-the-Art and Prospects of Learning Factories. In 45th CIRP Conference on Manufacturing Systems. Procedia CIRP, 3, 109–114.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zierer, K., & Seel, N. M. (2012). General didactics and instructional design: Eyes like twins; a transatlantic dialogue about similarities and differences, about the past and the future of two sciences of learning and teaching. Springer, 1(15), 1–22. https://doi.org/10.1186/2193-1801-1-15.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Eberhard Abele .

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2019 Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Abele, E., Metternich, J., Tisch, M. (2019). Historical Development, Terminology, and Definition of Learning Factories. In: Learning Factories . Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-92261-4_4

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-92261-4_4

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-92260-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-92261-4

  • eBook Packages: EngineeringEngineering (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics