THE “DIGITAL LIFECYCLE LAB” AS AN INTERDISCIPLINARY ENGINEERING ENVIRONMENT FOR FUTURE ENGINEERS AND INDUSTRY FOR ENHANCING ENGINEERING EDUCATION

The complexity of mechatronic systems is undergoing a continual increase in response to a number of factors, including global challenges, international competition, regulatory requirements, digitalization demands, sustainability goals, organizational transitions and cultural factors. These factors among others, contribute to a growing demand for engineers who possess the ability to comprehend and abstract interdisciplinary system behaviors as well as structures. It is essential that engineers are provided with the necessary support and sensitized to establish and maintain a mindset for innovative engineering approaches to fulfil requirements and functions of the systems to be developed. Obtaining these critical skills and attitudes requires a supportive environment where competencies can be applied and further refined in a practical, collaborative and systems-oriented setting. This paper presents the Digital Lifecycle Lab (DLL) at the Institute of Machine Components and Methods of Development (IME) at the Technical University of Graz (TU Graz). It outlines the innovative environment and concepts that facilitate the integration of theoretical knowledge and practical experience. In the DLL, students, postgraduate students and engineers from industry learn and validate different methods and software applications (tools) throughout the engineering process. The outcome of this approach is twofold: it offers an ad hoc learning experience and provides a strategic perspective on the end-to-end possibilities along the digital lifecycle of complex systems.