Software Engineering - vdma.eu
Software Engineering
Software meets mechanical engineering
In the field of mechanical and plant engineering, software has become indispensable as a driver of innovation and progress. The development of industrial software covers a wide range of applications, extending to higher-level processes, complementary products, and services.
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The economic situation in mechanical and plant engineering is characterized by caution, cost pressure, and uncertainty. Software is now becoming a concrete tool for stability and competitiveness.
As part of the "Software Engineering" lecture series, a short survey was conducted among participants in February 2026 to obtain an up-to-date picture of the current mood.
VDMA Software and Digitalization will once again be represented with a joint stand in Hall 15, D36 and, together with its sub-exhibitors, will show how modern software solutions are digitally transforming mechanical and plant engineering.
Mechanical engineering is gaining speed and precision with artificial intelligence. This innovative strength is also reflected in the theses submitted by graduates for the "Digitalization in Mechanical Engineering" prize for young talent.
The VDMA Industrial Security working group publishes the updated supplier self-assessment.
As part of the "Industrial Metaverse" information day, a short survey on the topic was conducted on 19.11.25 to obtain a current picture of the mood in companies.
As part of the online event "Generative AI in industry - potential meets practice", a survey was conducted among the participants on 25.11.25 to obtain an up-to-date picture of the current mood.
On July 1, 2025, VDMA Austria held an AI practical day at the KEBA Group in Linz, which attracted a great deal of interest with over 70 participants.
The VDMA Software and Digitization Association is expanding its offering on the topic of open source software in industry.
As part of the online event "Usability and user experience (UX) in mechanical and plant engineering", a survey was conducted among the participants on June 2, 2025 to obtain an up-to-date picture of the current mood.
The commercial use of space, known as New Space, is opening up new digital business models for the mechanical and plant engineering and software industries - that is the conclusion of the latest episode of the VDMA Industry Podcast.
The continuous development of software-based solutions enables companies to react more agilely to market changes and strengthens their competitive position.
Advancing digitalization has led to software no longer being seen as just a "tool", but as a decisive competitive advantage.
Digitalization is driving the mechanical and plant engineering industry forward. This innovative strength is also reflected in the theses submitted by graduates from Germany and Austria.
The event will focus on the integration of metaverse technologies such as digital twins, virtual reality and artificial intelligence in industrial production and logistics.
Together with members and partners, the trade association celebrated its 25th anniversary in Würzburg. One thing became particularly clear: the trade association and its topics are playing an increasingly important role in the industry.
The new white paper from VDMA Software and Digitalization is intended to provide member companies with guidance on how to become more familiar with the topic.
The VDMA interviewed two of our member companies to find out why software localization involves much more than the purely linguistic translation of user interfaces.
As part of the online event "Generative AI - exploiting opportunities, minimizing risks", a survey was conducted among the participants on 6 February 24 to obtain a current picture of the mood.
The VDMA expert group "Machine Learning / AI" has drawn up a checklist for the use of generative AI, which is intended to provide initial assistance for the application in the company.
The Industrial Metaverse - what added value does it offer? Which use cases are already possible and which hurdles still need to be overcome? A conversation with Michael Schmitt (Capgemini) and Florian Klein (VDMA).
Digitization is a decisive key in mechanical and plant engineering to ensure the competitiveness of European industry and thus also prosperity in Europe.
Description
Taking the metaverse into account is the right thing to do. However, strict EU rules would be an innovation killer. For mechanical engineering, the Industrial Metaverse offers great potential on the way to climate-neutral production and digitization.
VDMA found out why it will influence the world of work and how we will work together in the industrial environment in the future in an interview with two of our member companies.
Everyone is talking about ChatGPT - but can it really replace developers?
As part of the online event "Metaverse - a benefit for the industry?" on March 16, 2023, a survey on the topic was conducted to obtain an up-to-date mood picture from the companies.
VDMA found out why gamification should be seen as a valuable tool in an interview with Florian Fuchs from CaderaDesign GmbH and with Florian Holzapfel from Plain Concepts GmbH.
VDMA found out why agility only works with attitude in an interview with Christian Gerlach from macio GmbH and with Judith Armbruster from iT Engineering Software Innovations GmbH.
The approach of gamification becomes more and more important for the industry. This is understood to mean the transfer of game-typical elements and processes into non-game contexts. The declared goal is to bring about an increase in motivation and the associated change in behavior among users. But how can the (innate) human play instinct be used meaningfully for corporate purposes?
For some time now, the metaverse has been a much-discussed trend topic. It is a digital space in which virtual, augmented and physical reality merge as seamlessly as possible. Thus, digital representations of people ("avatars") can interact with each other and with digital objects in a virtual environment. But what impact does this have on industrial companies?
The event serves as a platform where experts can report on the latest developments and where real exchange is possible - across industries and with a practical focus.
Robotic Process Automation (RPA) is used to make business processes more efficient by allowing software robots to take over recurring routine tasks, such as performing transactions, following business rules, controlling applications, etc.
VDMA found out how important a good user experience (UX) is in an interview with Nils Clark-Bernhard, macio GmbH, and David Baier, Weidmueller GTI Software GmbH.
We talked to Sebastian Betzin from generic.de and Wolfram Schäfer from iT Engineering Software Innovations about the topic of software quality and clean code.
In today's very fast-paced world, individual departments or entire companies are increasingly under pressure to move. In order to remain competitive accordingly, no company should hide from digitalization.
On 27.04.2021, this described topic aspect was dealt with intensively in an event organized by the VDMA Baden-Württemberg and the Fachverband Software und Digitalisierung in cooperation with the Mittelstand 4.0-Kompetenzzentrum Stuttgart. The course of this online event was therefore structured into a keynote speech on the topic of clean code development and a building practical example.
In our podcast, we explore the question of what effects good and bad usability have in mechanical and plant engineering. Clemens Lutsch from Centigrade and Nils Clark-Bernhard from macio give answers.
Events
The rapid development of artificial intelligence is fundamentally changing software Engineering fundamentally. - But how can the potential of AI be utilized in practice? - Which tools and methods are already available today - and where are the the limits?
The digital transformation presents companies with major challenges: Established software landscapes need to be maintained, modernized and made fit for the future. In our online lecture series, we shed light on how you can reduce technical debt, implement modern architecture principles and use AI technologies profitably. You can look forward to inspiring presentations and the opportunity to exchange ideas directly with all participants.
Experience an inspiring online lecture series about the future of software development with a special focus on user-centered design. In compact sessions, experts will shed light on practical methods, strategic approaches and current trends - from journey mapping and team architecture to human factors in the age of AI. You can look forward to exciting presentations, the opportunity to exchange ideas directly with all participants and take the opportunity to familiarize yourself with the possibilities of UX design at an early stage.
our online lecture series, we shed light on how high-quality code is created, maintained is created, maintained and further developed with modern technologies. You can look forward to inspiring presentations, the opportunity to exchange ideas directly with all participants and take the opportunity to familiarize yourself with the possibilities of Familiarize yourself with the possibilities of software quality at an early stage.
The quality of software determines the success of modern products and processes. In our online lecture series, we highlight current trends, methods and tools that make software development more efficient, flexible and future-proof. You can look forward to inspiring presentations and the opportunity to exchange ideas directly with all participants.
In times of increasing digitalization and complex technical systems, user-friendliness is becoming a decisive competitive factor. A good user experience not only increases efficiency and security, but also user acceptance - whether in production, service or with end customers.
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