The future of manufacturing is here. And Purdue is in the driver's seat.
And Purdue University, by virtue of its extensive, homegrown expertise and location in the heart of the manufacturing belt, is poised to be a vital player in this new revolution.
Industry 4.0
Industry 4.0 is widely heralded by experts as the next phase in manufacturing. It hinges on lean manufacturing processes, some of which such as just-in-time, we already might be familiar with.
But the manufacturing of tomorrow is being driven by a special confluence of many factors: the growing use of Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) where sensors on manufacturing equipment can spit out a multitude of data in real time; incredible computing power that can crunch all that Big Data and exacting customer demands that demand a radical new approach in how manufacturing companies work.
Industry 4.0 will also hinge on developing a workforce that is comfortable with mobile and other technologies in shaping the smart factory of the future.
Collaboration with academia
The future of lean manufacturing technologies will rest heavily on academia and its talent pool that can conduct cutting-edge research for use in future cycles of Industry 4.0. Industry, in turn, provides a real-world testing ground for universities so they can test their hypotheses to see which ones have legs.
In a testament to Purdue’s vital role in such work, Jan-Anders Mansson, Director of the Composites Manufacturing and Simulation Center, was invited to a panel on Advanced Manufacturing by the U.S. Department of Commerce’s global event “Select USA Investment Summit.” At the event, Mansson discussed how automation, digital manufacturing, robotics, AI and IoT can impact the manufacturing industry.
Homefield advantage
When it comes to Industry 4.0, Purdue enjoys an additional advantage: its location. Over 500 automotive related companies have facilities in Indiana and five original equipment manufacturers including Toyota, Subaru, Honda, General Motors, and AM General, produce vehicles in the Hoosier State.
Such manufacturing facilities provide a real-world crucible for Purdue to forge collaborations with industry. As Mansson says, Indiana has a whole slew of additional advantages working in its favor: the state delivers access to the latest in research through Purdue, it generates access to capital and with not too much red tape.
Indiana has pursued major advanced manufacturing initiatives, and Purdue has played a vital role in anchoring these processes. The Indiana Next Generation Manufacturing Competitiveness Center (INMAC) is one that aims to create a stronger manufacturing ecosystem by supporting industry-university collaborations. In addition, the Wabash Heartland Innovation Network (WHIN) is building a 10-county interaction and testbed for research and workforce development in Industry 4.0.
Purdue Engineering plays a vital role in such initiatives. Purdue’s Composites Manufacturing Simulation Center, for example, is expected to be a vital testing ground for the materials of the future. The center focuses on discovery learning with a fast-track for innovation and inspiration for nimble start-ups.
Industry 4.0, is around the corner. Many of the technologies that fuel this revolution such as Big Data, IIoT, composite materials and agile computing, are projects that have strong roots in Purdue.
Purdue Engineering is helping shape what the future of manufacturing will look like — by focusing on the technology and the workforce — to meet the needs of the 21st century and beyond. The smart factory of tomorrow will be fueled by big ideas that are born out of academia and research and taken for a test drive on the manufacturing floor. In that sense, Purdue by virtue of its talent and location is ready to kick Industry 4.0 into high gear.