Institute of Applied Industrial Engineering and Ergonomics
About us
The ifaa –"Institut für angewandte Arbeitswissenschaft e.V." (Institute of Applied Industrial Engineering and Ergonomics) is a registered association. Our members are the employers associations of the German metal and electrical industries, their umbrella organisation ‘Gesamtmetall’ (metal trades) and further associations.
We provide our member associations and their member companies with expertise through cooperation with association employees, research projects on site and publications and events in the form of seminars, among other things. If your company requires our specific support, your association can put you in contact with our experts.
Our range of services
- Research & Projects
Practice-oriented research
The ifaa exists in a constant exchange with other scientists, institutions and universities.
The institute is always up to date with the latest research thanks to this active networking.
The team develops models, practical aids and brochures especially for small and medium-sized enterprises as part of practice-orientated research projects.
- Offers & Products
From research and practice for associations and companies
Ifaa knowledge for experts and executives: the research work at ifaa results in practical products and services for the member associations and their member companies.
For example: brochures, books, checklists, studies, seminars, workshops and even information in the form of numbers | data | facts.
- Who we work for
For associations and companies
The ifaa is a registered association. Our members are the employers associations of the German metal and electrical industries, their umbrella organisation ‘Gesamtmetall’ (metal trades) and further associations.
Our expertise are available to our member associations and their member companies through cooperation with the members of the association, on-site research projects and through publications and events in the form of seminars, among other things.
If you require specific support as a company, your employer association will put you in contact with our experts.
"We develop operationally feasible solutions on a sound scientific basis. Competent and practical for the future."
Prof. Dr.-Ing. habil. Sascha Stowasser,
director ifaa
Specialist fields for our topics
Corporate excellence
Productivity management as a central topic for holistic enterprise and production systems, digitalization & industry 4.0.
Work and efficiency
Questions regarding occupational health and safety, ergonomic workplace design and occupational health management.
Working hours and remuneration
Basic and performance-related pay as well as working and operating times as central topics of the tariff structure and industrial relations.
Digital Transformation
Questions regarding the step-by-step introduction and productive use of digital and intelligent technologies.
Publications in English
Take a look at the international publications of our research assistants!
ifaa explains artificial intelligence – opportunities for companies and employees
Artificial intelligence (AI) is a defining universal technology that offers numerous opportunities for companies and is also fundamentally changing the world of work, company organization and business models.
- Which applications can be supported with AI?
- How should AI be designed?
- What does AI help with?
The ifaa pragmatically researches and tests practical approaches and procedures to exploit the potential of AI for companies and their employees. Applications can be found in many production and production-related business areas: In intelligent process automation, workforce scheduling, robot control, quality control, predictive maintenance or to support knowledge management and skills development. The ifaa examines AI in a wide range of sectors, such as industry, medicine, banking and insurance, or in administrative fields of activity in general.
For the ifaa, AI is a cross-cutting topic that affects all subject areas and projects and is therefore processed by us across all departments.