Advantages of Learning Factories for Production Planning based on shop floor simulation: A step towards smart factories in Industry 4.0

Abstract

In future industry, defined as Industry 4.0, production planning and control strategies will be executed by human beings backed by computational tools for decision making; One of these tools is shop floor simulation, and a natural scenario to learn about how to use it for productive processes design and control are the Learning Factories. In this chapter, shop floor simulation is identified as a tool for planning and controlling production, also a state of the art about its implementation is exposed in academic and industrial environments. In addition, the trends in the construction of the Learning Factories are shown, and some aspects about how they can be used for shop floor simulation. This work also proposes the realization of a digital model in EAFIT University Learning Factory as a first step towards digital learning factory.

The Learning Factory through the Sustainability Lens

“…In the narrow sense, a LF offers a real value chain for a tangible good so that participants can perform, assess, and reflect on their actions as part of an on-site learning strategy [26]. Digital LF is an IT environment in which all LF elements are digitally monitored, and a virtual LF provides virtual software tools which allow for the execution of the digital simulation, the simulation of tasks, or the evaluation of alternative designs before manufacturing [27]. LFs in a broader sense, including virtual LFs, which comprise almost two-thirds of all LFs [19], have less practical training and are far from reality, though they offer pros like scalability and location independence [26].…”