Industry 4.0 Minor

What I Did During This Minor

During this interdisciplinary minor program, I dove into the world of smart manufacturing and Industry 4.0 technologies. The focus was on understanding how traditional factories can become more digital, efficient, and connected.

The main highlight was working on a real project with Apollo Tyres in Enschede. Together with a diverse team of students from different backgrounds, we analyzed their current production processes and identified opportunities for digital improvements. We spent time on the factory floor, talked to workers and managers, and really tried to understand how things work in practice.

Our team looked at everything from the technical side (like sensors and automation) to the human aspect (how workers would adapt to new technologies). We then created a practical roadmap showing Apollo Tyres how they could gradually implement Industry 4.0 solutions over the next few years - starting with simple camera systems for quality control and eventually moving towards AI-powered applications.

What I really enjoyed was the hands-on approach. Instead of just learning theory, we got to see real manufacturing challenges and think about practical solutions. The minor taught me how to bridge the gap between new technologies and actual business needs, which is something I find really valuable in my current work with manufacturing and 3D printing.

The experience definitely shaped my understanding of modern manufacturing and gave me insights that I use today when helping companies optimize their production processes.