Dissemination of knowledge of Industry 4.0 in the industry value chain

Purpose and goal

The purpose has been to spread knowledge about techniques, methods, and concepts that are central to Industry 4.0 and the digitization of industrial value chains. We have done this by holding workshops with some 20 manufacturing companies in the region, where we shared our knowledge of the subject and together guided the companies in how they can work on their digitization work. We have also conducted 4 workshops that have been open to the public. A total of 137 people were present from various actors in both the private and public sectors.

Expected results and effects

The goals have been to carry out workshops, write a report on its outcome, spread that report, and offer lectures on the project. All goals have been achieved and we continue to spread knowledge about the project. In addition, we have also succeeded in attracting a large public interest in industry 4.0 in the region, both from private and public actors. It has directly led to 3 new research projects at ÅLÖ, a new degree project for UmU´s students at GE Healthcare, and the formation of several "councils" to increase collaboration between UmU and the regional industry.

Planned approach and implementation

Implementation has taken place in three steps; companies were contacted to attend workshops, workshops were conducted, the result was compiled in a report. It was much harder than expected to get companies to agree to partake in the workshops. There seems to be a general aversion to the term "Industry 4.0" which means that they do not want to participate in this type of activity, the concept is perceived as vague. Had we redesigned the project, we would not mentioned the concept but only focus on the effects that Industry 4.0 entails and the techniques that lead it.