Home
Scholarly Works
Learning Factory for Integrating Engineering...
Chapter

Learning Factory for Integrating Engineering Technology and Business Management Education

Abstract

Advanced manufacturing demands seamless integration of manufacturing, information, and communication technologies to facilitate real-time information sharing across the entire value chain. Teaching the intricate art of integrating these technologies and associated business models is a challenge. This paper explores the potential of learning factories in bridging this educational gap, leveraging their proven effectiveness in fostering practical competencies in engineering, technology, and business. While learning factories are recognized for their effectiveness in teaching multidisciplinary skills, most are limited in scope, focusing on specific facets of manufacturing, such as lean management, resource efficiency, quality control, and logistics. This paper discusses how the School of Engineering Practice and Technology (SEPT) Learning Factory at McMaster University, has been tailored to support courses spanning various domains of manufacturing, including Industry 4.0, industrial systems integration, and business management. The SEPT Learning Factory operates using an innovative model, producing marketable products that are either sold in the open market or donated to deserving community members. This way, the factory effectively addresses two crucial limitations commonly associated with such educational facilities. Firstly, it tackles the issue of low return on investment, often linked to the substantial resources required for learning factory development and operation. Secondly, it expands the scope of resources available for learning, breaking free from the confines of examining only select aspects of industrial production. Finally, this paper presents the SEPT Learning Factory's role as an enabler of integrated practice-based education, elucidating how it fosters a holistic understanding of modern manufacturing technologies and business management.

Authors

Wanyama T; Centea D; Mehrtash M

Book title

Learning Factories of the Future

Series

Lecture Notes in Networks and Systems

Volume

1060

Pagination

pp. 92-99

Publisher

Springer Nature

Publication Date

January 1, 2024

DOI

10.1007/978-3-031-65400-8_11
View published work (Non-McMaster Users)

Contact the Experts team