Dennis Kolberg

Prof. Dennis Kolberg serves as Professor of Industrial Engineering at Lübeck University of Applied Sciences, holding dual leadership roles as Head of Industrial Engineering Bachelor/Master programs and Head of the Institute for Entrepreneurship and Business Development (IEBD). His career uniquely bridges academic research and industry implementation, with recent executive experience as Chief Product Officer at DIGIMONDO (2020-2023) and co-founding SPARETECH (2019).

• M.Sc. Industrial Engineering, University of Bremen (2007-2014)
• Ph.D. in Industrial Engineering, Technical University of Kaiserslautern (2014-2018) focusing on Industry 4.0 and Lean Management
• Vocational Training as Industrial Clerk, RK Rose+Krieger (2004-2007)

His research pioneers the integration of lean production methodologies with digital technologies, specializing in Industry 4.0 implementation and OT/IT convergence for manufacturing environments. Key contributions include developing reference architectures for cyber-physical production systems and optimizing human-machine interfaces through lean automation principles. Current work emphasizes digital transformation in B2B contexts, particularly for software startups in industrial settings.

Publications from 2015-2022 reveal a consistent trajectory from foundational CPS architectures toward applied IoT solutions, with recent focus on digital twins for production optimization. His work consistently bridges theoretical frameworks and practical implementation, demonstrating how lean principles enhance digital transformation outcomes in manufacturing.

Kolberg actively supervises bachelor's and master's theses at Lübeck University of Applied Sciences, with students registering via email for thesis topics. His industry background informs practical research directions, though specific grant funding isn't detailed in available sources. As IEBD Director, he drives academic-industry partnerships focused on digital entrepreneurship.

Leading the Institute for Entrepreneurship and Business Development, Kolberg oversees initiatives connecting academic research with business development in digital manufacturing. Previously at DFKI's SmartFactory KL, he directed research on changeable cyber-physical production systems, establishing methodologies now applied in his current industry collaborations.