The Team

Prof. Dr. Harald Kuhn

Studied Materials Science and earned a doctorate (Dr. rer. nat.) at Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen (1996)

Professional Experience:

• 1996 – 1999: Development Engineer, Siemens AG, Erlangen

• 1999 – 2001: Head of Production Department, SiCrystal AG, Erlangen

• 2001 – 2003: Product Engineering Specialist, Infineon Technologies AG, Munich

• 2003 – 2007: Senior Manager, Infineon Technologies AG, Munich

• 2007 – 2008: Project Manager, Siemens AG Healthcare, Forchheim

• 2008 – 2020: Director, Infineon Technologies AG, Regensburg

• Since 2020: Professor for Smart Systems Integration at the Center for Microtechnologies, Chemnitz University of Technology

• Since 2020: Director of the Fraunhofer Institute for Electronic Nano Systems (ENAS), Chemnitz

• Since 2021: Director of the Center for Microtechnologies, Chemnitz University of Technology

Additional References and Roles:

• Global responsibility for backend automation / Industry 4.0 / digitalization at Infineon Technologies

• Responsible for an international R&D department with more than 150 employees worldwide

• Winner of the Infineon Innovation Award 2019 for “Backend Automation”

• Member of the Smart Factory Society at the backend production site in Singapore

• Leader in AI-based production optimization, including the establishment of an international AI team

• Strategy and implementation of test solutions as key enablers for achieving quality and cost targets, with high leverage as a market enabler

• Development, implementation, and global rollout (across all production sites) of the Part Average Testing (PAT) methodology to detect outliers and potential defective components

• Responsible for international projects with multi-million Euro budgets

Rainer Kaltschmidt

Rainer Kaltschmidt was born in 1968 in Dresden and studied Physics at the University of Applied Sciences Merseburg, the University of Bayreuth, and the Friedrich-Alexander University of Erlangen-Nuremberg. Since 1996, he has held various positions at different locations of Siemens AG, including Erlangen, Forchheim, Madrid, Shanghai, and Wuxi.

His expertise lies in model-based engineering, system and component development, project management, and the OEM business, particularly in international business (Asia). Most recently, he served as General Manager of the Generator Factory at Siemens Healthineers in Wuxi, China. Since 2021, he has been working at Fraunhofer ENAS as Head of International Sales and, since 2023, he has been supporting the Chair of Smart System Integration at Chemnitz University of Technology as part of the China Competence Center.

Benjamin Schreiber

Benjamin Schreiber was born in 1990 in Schmalkalden and grew up in Kassel. After graduating from high school, he completed an overseas voluntary service with the peace organization Memorial in St. Petersburg, Russia, through the organization Aktion Sühnezeichen Friedensdienste.

He completed his Bachelor's and Master's degree in Sensory and Cognitive Psychology at Chemnitz University of Technology, graduating successfully in 2023.

Alongside his studies, he gained extensive international experience. He worked for F+U Sachsen and Starrag for international clients and guests and, in 2022, volunteered as the team leader of a team of translators for Russian and Ukrainian.

Prof. Angelika Bullinger-Hoffmann

Prof. Dr. Bullinger-Hoffmann has been leading the Chair of Ergonomics and Innovation Management at Chemnitz University of Technology since April 2012.

She completed her studies at the University of St. Gallen – HSG and HEC Paris. She then worked for three years as a research assistant at the Technical University of Munich, where she earned her PhD summa cum laude on the topic of "Innovation and Ontologies." Her habilitation on "IT-based Interactive Innovation" was carried out at the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg and the University of Pennsylvania.

She has more than 15 years of experience in acquiring and leading national and European projects, advises industrial companies, and regularly delivers lectures and keynote speeches on the future of work and workers. Prof. Bullinger-Hoffmann is a member of the German Academy of Engineering Sciences – acatech and a supervisory board member of Paul Hartmann AG.

The results of Prof. Dr. Bullinger-Hoffmann's work have been published in international peer-reviewed journals such as Ergonomics, Human Factors, Creativity and Innovation Management, R&D Management, and Zeitschrift für Arbeitswissenschaft.

Annika Feldhoff

Since 2011, she has been working at TU Chemnitz, and since 2012 at the Chair of Work Science and Innovation Management, where she has worked on various research projects. Currently, in addition to the project “YiQi,” she is also involved in the project “DuET.”

Previous Projects

• IREKO - Sustainable Implementation of Innovation in the Regional Work Context

• BIWAQ - Perspective Factory Midlife

• Open Engineering

• Open Engineering 2

• KaFaSax

• Auto_ID

• MOONRISE

Prof. Dr.-Ing. habil. Christian-Andreas Schumann

Curriculum Vitae

• Business Studies at Chemnitz University of Technology

• PhD in 1984 and Habilitation in 1987 at Chemnitz University of Technology

• Director of the Center for New Study Formats at the West Saxon University of Applied Sciences Zwickau (FH)

• Chairman of the West Saxon District Association Chemnitz of the Association of German Engineers (VDI)

• Spokesperson of the VDI Region Central, Member of the Advisory Board of the VDI District Associations

• Scientific Officer of several international projects

• Since 1994, employed at the West Saxon University of Applied Sciences Zwickau

Research and Specialization Areas

• Complex design of organizational systems

• Factory and Production Informatics

• New study formats

• EU Projects (further information on EU projects available on the website)

Dr.-Ing. Xiaoli Chen

Education

• 2009.04–2014.02 PhD in Engineering, TU Chemnitz (Summa Cum Laude)

• 2006.09–2008.09 Master's in Industrial Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai, PR China (Top 3)

• 2002.09–2006.07 Bachelor's in Industrial Engineering, Zhejiang University, PR China (Top 3)

Qualifications

• In-depth knowledge in international collaboration

• In-depth knowledge of Chinese-German exchange and cooperation

• Innovation and innovation management

• Knowledge of international production networks

• Knowledge in company competence management

• Experience in systematic layout planning (SLP)

• Experience in technology foresight using the Delphi method

• Experience in restructuring production lines based on Lean principles using Em-Plant

• Experience in electronic craftsmanship, including building a radio device

• Good understanding of Lean Production and Quality Control

• Good understanding of Six Sigma project implementation

• Good understanding of in-line quality control and material quality control

• Basic knowledge of logistics management and AS/RS (Automated Storage and Retrieval System)

• Basic knowledge of logistics equipment, PDM, supply chains, and Supply Chain Management (SCM)