Implementing Industry 4.0: The Model Factory as the Key Enabler for the Future of Manufacturing (Intelligent Systems Reference Library, 202)

This book relates research being implemented in three main research areas: secure connectivity and intelligent systems, real-time analytics and manufacturing knowledge and virtual manufacturing.

Manufacturing SMEs and MNCs want to see how Industry 4.0 is implemented. On the other hand, groundbreaking research on this topic is constantly growing. For the aforesaid reason, the Singapore Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), has created the model factory initiative.

In the model factory, manufacturers, technology providers and the broader industry can (i) learn how I4.0 technologies are implemented on real-world manufacturing use-cases, (ii) test process improvements enabled by such technologies at the model factory facility, without disrupting their own operations, (iii) co-develop technology solutions and (iv) support the adoption of solutions at their everyday industrial operation.

The book constitutes a clear base ground not only for inspiration of researchers, but also for companies who will want to adopt smart manufacturing approaches coming from Industry 4.0 in their pathway to digitization.

Dr. Carlos Toro received both his Ph.D. And M.Sc. in Computer Science from the University of the Basque Country (Spain) and his Bachelor degree in Mechanical Engineering (with honors) from EAFIT University (Colombia). In 2003 he moved to Spain and started working in applied research focusing on Industrial and Advanced Manufacturing. At the same time, he lectured at the university of the Basque Country. In 2007 he was invited researcher at the University of Newcastle (Australia) returning in 2011 with a Marie Curie research visitor grant funded by the EU Commission.  Since 2017 he joined A*Star Singapore at their Advanced Remanufacturing and Technology Centre (ARTC) as Senior Technology Architect and research scientist for the Smart manufacturing Division.    

Dr. Humza Akhtar is working in A*STAR as Group Manager in Advanced Remanufacturing and Technology Center (ARTC) since 2016 for Smart Manufacturing Group where he is leading a team of research scientists and software developers to create solutions for next generation manufacturing.    

He has experience in end to end industry 4.0 solution development through IIoT and data analytics on edge and in cloud. He has also developed solutions for digital twin, factory simulation and immersive visualization through Virtual Reality.  

He is also supporting a fast-growing startup Arcstone Pte Ltd as solutions architect for their new I4.0 product line. Humza completed his PhD from Nanyang Technological University in 2017 and the focus of his research was in data compression and optimization.

Dr. Wei Wang is the Coordinating Director of the Smart Manufacturing  Division for the Advanced Remanufacturing and Technology Centre's Smart Manufacturing Group. He is also the Senior Programme Manager of the Smart Manufacturing Joint Lab. Before joining ARTC, Dr Wang Wei held his position as Research Scientist with A*STAR's Institute of Materials Research & Engineering for nearly seven years. He then progressed and spent seven years on secondment with Rolls Royce as an Advanced Technologist.  Dr Wang Wei holds Bachelor in Materials Sciences and Engineering and also a Masters Degree in Engineering, Materials Science with Zhejiang University, China. Dr Wang Wei also received his PhD in Materials Engineering with The Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore.