The Smart Production Laboratory: A Learning Factory for Industry 4.0 Concepts

The manufacturing industry is moving “digital” and the changes required are numerous and extensive. In general, there is a lack of understanding of how new technologies are beneficial to the manufacturing industry. This transformation, also known as the 4 industrial revolution or Industry 4.0, created the need of a research platform that could enable practitioners and academia collaboration on new technologies. Aalborg University developed a Learning Factory that is a facility equipped with machines, materials and tools established to support research projects. This paper presents Aalborg University’s "small Industry 4.0 factory" and its contribution to Industry 4.0 research by creating a platform for developing technologies to satisfy manufacturing requirements and by demonstrating their value in a production environment. The Leaning Factory is contributing to research by enabling the development of manufacturing technology. At the same time, it is providing practitioners with a platform for solving industrial problems.