Key research themes
1. How do Fab Labs facilitate innovation and product development in Industry 4.0 contexts?
This theme centers on the role of Fab Labs as collaborative spaces that democratize access to digital fabrication technologies, fostering innovation and iterative product development within Industry 4.0. Fab Labs provide low-cost prototyping capabilities, community engagement, and knowledge sharing, enabling rapid validation and mass customization of products. This has implications for education, entrepreneurship, and industrial competitiveness.
2. What are effective models for integrating industry partnerships and experiential learning in Industrial Engineering education?
This theme investigates pedagogical models that align engineering curricula with industry needs through collaborative projects, internships, and fellowship programs. Emphasis is placed on project-based learning (PBL), senior design projects in direct collaboration with industry partners, and industrial fellowship programs, all aimed at enhancing students’ practical competencies, employability, and facilitating knowledge transfer between academia and industry.
3. What are contemporary strategies for upgrading legacy industrial equipment towards Industry 4.0 compatibility in manufacturing environments?
This research theme explores cost-effective methods to retrofit existing manufacturing equipment, such as PCB reflow ovens, with Industry 4.0 technologies including Industrial IoT, data analytics, and decentralized network architectures. Focus is on maintaining sustainability, reducing upgrade costs particularly for SMEs, and ensuring quality and traceability in automated manufacturing processes through modular, communication-efficient sensor integration and lightweight network protocols.