Biography

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Thomas Bauernhansl
Personal Details
Birth 12/3/1969 in Miltenberg (Germany)
Position and Address Director Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Engineering and Automation IPA
Director Institute of Industrial Manufacturing and Management IFF
University of Stuttgart, Nobelst. 12, 70569 Stuttgart, Germany
Phone ++49(0)711/970-1101, e mail: thomas.bauernhansl@ipa.fraunhofer.de
Scientific Focus
• Personalized Production
• Sustainable Production and Quality Management
• Advanced Complexity Management
• Factory Planning and Production Optimization
• Order Management and Value Networks
• Coating Systems and Painting Technology, Plating Technology
• Functional Materials, Additive Manufacturing and Digital Printing Technologies
• Lightweight Construction Technologies
• Industrie 4.0, Integrated Industry Production Strategies
University Engagement
• ARENA 2036 : Active Research Environment for the Next Generation of Automobiles
• S-Tech: Stuttgart Technology and Innovation Center
• PZS Produktionstechnisches Zentrum Stuttgart
• Guest Lecturer Executive MBA in Supply Chain Management (MBA ETH SCM)
Memberships
Since 1/2012 Gesellschaft für Fertigungstechnik in Stuttgart
Since 5/2012 Member of Advisory Board Leipold Group
Since 7/2013 Managing Board Member Lightweight Construction Center Baden-Württemberg – LBZ-BW e.V.
Since 10/2013 Member of Scientific Advisory Board Platform Industry 4.0
Since 10/2013 Member of Board of Trustees IMPULS Foundation VDMA
Since 3/2014 Chair of Commission Ingenieurwissenschaften@bw2025
Ministry of Science, Research and the Arts Baden-Württemberg
Since 9/2014 Vice-Chairman of Steering Committee “Allianz Industrie 4.0 BW”
Since 6/2014 Member of the German Academic Society for Production Engineering (WGP)
Since 7/2014 Dean of Studies “Technology Management” (University of Stuttgart)
Since 1/ 2015 Board Member „Future of Work/Industrie 4.0“ of the German Metal Workers Union / IG Metall
Since 2/2015 Member of the Strategy Committee “Plattform Industrie 4.0” of the German Federal Government/ Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy
Since 3/2015 Board Member of the Institute for Energy Efficiency in Production (EEP) University of Stuttgart
Since 5/2015 Member of Board of Directors of the EFFRA (European Factories of the Future Research Association)
Since 11/2015 Member of Steering Committee Fraunhofer-Allianz Ambient Assisted Living (AAL)
Since 4/2017 Member of the Scientific Board of the German Logistics Association
(Bundesvereinigung Logistik (BVL) e.V)
Professional Career
Today Head of Fraunhofer Institute Manufacturing Engineering and Automation and Institute of Industrial Manufacturing and Management (IFF) University of Stuttgart
10/2012 - 1/2015 Head of University Institute for Energy Efficiency in Production (EEP)
1/ 2011 - 8/ 2011 Freudenberg Sealing Technologies
- Head Global Process Technology
at worldwide 50 facilities
10/ 2007- 12/ 2010 Freudenberg Sealing Technologies
Head of Technology Center Europe at over 27 facilities in Europe with the emphasis on:
- Segmentation of production and location planning
- Facility planning, outsourcing and ramp up management
- Lean production (including Six Sigma)
- Technology management
- Development and optimization of manufacturing process
11/ 2003 - 9/ 2007 Freudenberg Systems and Tools Engineering ltd. Speaker of corporate management
7/2003 - 10/ 2003 Freudenberg Systems and Tools Engineering ltd.
Director of business unit “tool manufacture” –
- 4/ 2003 - 6/ 2003 Freudenberg Systems and Tools Engineering ltd.
- Assistant of Corporate Management
6/2002 Graduation Dr.-Ing. (grade: 1, 0 / with honor)
Thesis: Evaluation of Synergy Potential in Mechanical Engineering
3/1998 - 3/2003 Research assistant at the Laboratory of Machine Tools and Production Engineering (WZL), Chair of Production Engineering (Prof. Eversheim / Prof. Schuh), RWTH Aachen University
- 6/ 1999-2/ 2001 Group Manager “process and technology planning”
- 3/2001-3/ 2003 Department Manager of “Integrated Product Development” and starting 2002 “Corporate Development”
Experience Abroad
10/ 2007 - 8/ 2011 Responsibility for 50 Freudenberg Production Sites worldwide
2003 - 2007 Responsibility for Production Site in Langres, France and Bursa, Turkey
10/ 1995 - 5/ 1996 Internship at the company Equinox in Bogota, Columbia
University Education
2/1998 Graduation: Dipl.-Ing. at RWTH Aachen
1991-1998 Study of Mechanical Engineering at RWTH Aachen University
Focus: Manufacturing Engineering
Military Service
9/1991 Lieutenant Reserve Officer
1989-1991 Soldier-in- training/ reserve officer in the paratrooper’s battalions
School
5/1989 High School Graduation (Abitur)
1980 -1989 Karl-Ernst-Secondary School Amorbach
1976 -1980 Elementary School Weilbach
Awards
2002 Borchers-Plakette for doctoral thesis ”with honor”