Advanced Automation for SMEs in the I4.0 Revolution: Engineering Education and Employees Training in the Smart Mini Factory Laboratory

Abstract

Industry 4.0 is currently changing the shopfloor of many large manufacturing companies. Small and medium-sized enterprises are also increasingly concerned with the introduction of Industry 4.0 technologies and methods. This requires a great change of employees, creating a strong demand for training and further education for existing workers. The qualification of employees of small and medium-sized enterprises as well as engineering students can take place, for example, in learning factories where a revised educational paradigm is implemented. In this paper, the experiences and results we have learnt with the implementation of specific trainings and educational activities for advanced automation in the Smart Mini Factory Laboratory of the Free University of Bolzano are explained and discussed.

The Advantages of Industry 4.0 Applications for Sustainability: Results from a Sample of Manufacturing Companies

“…Since social sustainability is necessary to the fulfilment of the three dimensions of the TBL, it deserves a specific and detailed analysis [43]. The increasing level of automation [44] and collaboration between the workers and the machines [45] will improve people's working conditions. This is particularly advantageous, since the proportion of older workers will increase due to the age shift [22].…”

SME 4.0: The Role of Small- and Medium-Sized Enterprises in the Digital Transformation

“…Several works try also to combine the advantages of Lean and Industry 4.0 or discuss why both principles are complementary and do not exclude each other (Matt et al 2016;Rauch et al 2017). Other papers are presenting competence centers, learning factories, and laboratories for Industry 4.0 specific research, training offers or knowledge transfer to smaller firms (Müller and Hopf 2017;Scheidel et al 2018;Gualtieri et al 2018). Rauch et al (2018b) used Axiomatic Design in their research to develop a methodology for SMEs in order to introduce flexible and agile manufacturing systems.…”

“…Many small-and medium-sized companies are already focusing on digitized products in order to stand out in the market (PWC 2015). The integration of information and communication technology (ICT) and modern Industry 4.0 technologies would transform today's SME factories into smart factories with significant economic potential (Lee and Lapira 2013;Gualtieri et al 2018).…”

Implementation of a Laboratory Case Study for Intuitive Collaboration Between Man and Machine in SME Assembly

“…Inspired by the concept of a learning factory, it aims to study and simulate production systems with a special focus on technologies and methods that enable the fourth industrial revolution. A primary goal is to develop a meeting platform where research, learning, and industry meet to allow common and productive knowledge transfer (Gualtieri et al 2018). In fact, to achieve knowledge production, diffusion and application through innovation, the laboratory is built to serve three purposes:…”