Frankfurt, March 20, 2026 – The new WGP seminars for technical specialists and managers are launching – an accessible program designed specifically to help small and medium-sized enterprises build resilient and innovative production capabilities. The WGP (Scientific Society for Production Engineering), an association of leading German professors, offers its cutting-edge expertise to small and medium-sized enterprises in particular through one- to two-day seminars. “The Production Academy is designed to help manufacturing companies remain competitive, especially in this unstable global and economic climate,” emphasizes Prof. Mathias Liewald, Director of the WGP Production Academy.
The WGP brings together over 70 leading researchers from 46 internationally renowned universities and Fraunhofer Institutes, pooling unique expertise across all areas of production engineering. In their respective fields, the WGP institutes operate state-of-the-art laboratories that can be used as real-world testing grounds. The Production Academy’s seminars cover a wide range of topics, from updates on traditional production methods and approaches to value stream analysis and factory planning to future-oriented topics such as artificial intelligence and the circular economy. The seminars also address individual challenges.
Develop your own AI solutions
In Hanover, for example, at the Institute for Machine Tools (IFW), company employees use LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® to gain a clear understanding of typical AI applications and design concrete scenarios and strategies. In the process, they also learn which of these applications could be adapted to their specific situation. Participants thus take concrete applications of AI back to their work environments. Equipped with a basic understanding of AI algorithms and their practical application, they can also develop their own ideas for AI solutions.
Efficient production thanks to the right analyses
Machining processes, such as turning, milling, or drilling, can usually be optimized, and machines and tools can be used more efficiently. Numerous analytical methods are available to assess the current state of affairs and redesign processes as needed. Proper application of these methods not only ensures better utilization of existing resources but also raises awareness of the interrelationships involved in complex machining tasks. In the seminar “Process, Tool, and Machine Analysis” from October 14 to 15, WGP experts from the Institute for Machining Technology (ISF) in Dortmund will use manufacturing-relevant examples to provide a fundamental understanding of the evaluation methods and demonstrate them in practical application tests.
Resource-efficient production of electrical machinery
On April 23, 2026, in Nuremberg, participants at the Chair of Manufacturing Automation and Production Systems (FAPS) at the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg (FAU) will have the opportunity to gain an overview of holistic approaches to resource-efficient production of electric machines. Dean Petrovski from the Munich-based high-tech company DeepDrive, which collaborates with the world’s largest automakers, will deliver a keynote speech on “Revolutionary Drives for Tomorrow’s Electric Mobility.” DeepDrive specializes in the development of compact, cost-effective, and more sustainable electric drives. The presentation of innovative process and plant technology and current key technologies will be complemented by information on funding opportunities and cooperation models.
Launched in 2015, the WGP Production Academy has since become an established institution that helps manufacturing companies significantly accelerate the transfer of knowledge from research to practice. In an era of rapidly evolving new technologies, this is an absolute must for any company that wants to remain competitive—and for Germany as a business location.
Further Information
Image 1: The rapid transfer of knowledge from research to practice is essential for long-term economic success; Source: Institute for Manufacturing Engineering (wbk), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT)
Image 2: Prof. Mathias Liewald; Director of the WGP Production Academy, Director of the Institute for Metal Forming Technology (IFU) at the University of Stuttgart; Source: IFU Stuttgart
