Industry 4.0

A course describing the various facets of Industry 4.0 and connecting them with data science techniques to build data-centric business models.

This course explores the transformative principles of Industry 4.0, focusing on how data science is reshaping modern manufacturing and logistics. We learned to connect the core pillars of Industry 4.0 with practical data science techniques to build intelligent, data-centric business models. The curriculum covered a wide range of applications, from optimizing facility layouts and locations to making sourcing decisions with the Apriori algorithm. We delved into dynamic programming for inventory control, time series forecasting for demand planning, and vehicle routing problems for logistics. The course also covered key digital transformation concepts like digital twins and concluded with discussions on dynamic pricing and the future of AI in manufacturing.

Instructors

Prof. Rahul R Marathe, Department of Management Studies, IIT Madras

Course Schedule & Topics

The course is structured over 12 weeks, applying data science techniques to core Industry 4.0 concepts.

Week Primary Focus Key Topics Covered
1 Introduction to Industry 4.0 Introductory discussion on the evolution and history of industrial revolutions.
2 Facility Layout Analysis of different facility layout types and their optimization.
3 Facility Location Techniques for optimal facility location, including a case study with Python code.
4 Sourcing & Association Rule Mining Sourcing decisions, introduction to the Apriori algorithm, and a Python tutorial.
5 Inventory Models Line balancing, and inventory models including Economic Order Quantity, Newspaper Vendor Model, and Dynamic Programming.
6 Dynamic Programming for Operations Python tutorial for Dynamic Programming (DP), Stochastic DP, Value Iteration, and Policy Iteration.
7 Network Material Flow Analysis of material flow within a complex network.
8 Time Series Forecasting Applying time series forecasting methods to industrial data.
9 Logistics & Distribution Logistics distribution management, including mode selections and Vehicle Routing Problems (VRP).
10 Digitization & Digital Twins Discussion on Digitization, Digitalization, Industry 4.0 in products, Simulation & ERP, and Digital Twins.
11 Dynamic Pricing & Capacity Pricing strategies, capacity allocation, and Littlewood’s approximation tutorial.
12 AI in Manufacturing A concluding discussion on the role and future of Artificial Intelligence in manufacturing.

Material used