This course aims to provide an overview of Industry 4.0 with a specific focus on manufacturing companies that are planning for, or on the path of, digital transformation. The offering will also introduce some tools and models for Industry 4.0 readiness assessment. One focus is on how digital manufacturing can uplift New Zealand SMEs capability, productivity and resilience.
The course introduces the basics of industrial communications, essential Industrial IoT sensing and data analysis technologies with a focus on industrial/manufacturing automation applications. Students are expected to gain basic knowledge of evaluating these technologies and designing a simple IoT application in an industrial context.
This course also explains the technology of "Digital Twins" and how Digital Twins can be used in industrial applications. Digital Twins are able to make decisions independently, use model simulations and communicate with other Digital Twins and the production plant. Digital Twins-enabled, decentralised and autonomous optimisation will be covered.
The course is closely attached to the Laboratory for Industry 4.0 Smart Manufacturing Systems (LISMS) - the country’s first Industry 4.0 Lab – where a Learning Factory is in operation. Some basic programming skills are a prerequisite.
This is an advanced Level 9 course designed to contribute to the Level 9 requirements in a Masters degree. Students completing this course need to demonstrate the independent application and/or development of highly specialised knowledge and skills. This course shares lectures and other content with MECHENG 754, but is assessed at a higher level by requiring the completion of an independent report in addition to a set of assignments, which collectively make up at least 30% of individual research work. Students who do not require a Level 9 Masters course are recommended to enrol in MECHENG 754 instead. Students completing this course are restricted against future enrolments in MECHENG 754.