ConnectING 19 juni 2022

POSTGRADUATE SMART
OPERATIONS & MAINTENANCE
IN INDUSTRY
Interuniversity and embedded. Those are two major strengths of the postgraduate
'Smart Operations & Maintenance in Industry' that will start in September 2022.
The programme is organised by KU Leuven and Ghent University and taught by mixed
teaching teams. Moreover, it is the precursor to an Advanced Master of the same name.
Prof. Davy Pissoort, Programme Director and Jorie Soltic, Programme Coordinator explain.
' State-of-the-art technology in two historical cities in Europe',
is how the new study programme profiles itself at home
and abroad. The historical name and fame of the twin cities
Bruges and Kortrijk need no further explanation. Prof. Davy
Pissoort does have something to say about the state-of-the-art
technology. “The qualification 'smart' is crucial. This refers to the
digital transformation that is currently taking place in all sectors
of the economy. Information and data technologies are now an
integral part of modern manufacturing and the associated
operations and maintenance. The latter, in turn, have become
inseparable. Maintenance allows operational processes to run
as smoothly and undisturbed as possible by ensuring that all
equipment and infrastructure required for production is always
functioning 100% efficiently. Operational excellence has become
the goal of every company in Industry 4.0”.
Main courses
“Operational excellence presupposes excellent professionals who
must be excellently trained,” Jorie continues. “That brings us to
the objectives of the programme. We aim to educate experts
who can optimise both operational and maintenance processes
by making them smart by using innovative technologies such as
robotics, big data analysis, digital twins, cloud computing, etc.
Our programme covers technologies that facilitate the digitalisation
of product and process information and connect equipment,
assents, and people. Concrete applications are smart sensors,
robots, and industrial Internet-of-Things platforms”.
The postgraduate programme consists of four main courses of
6 ECTS each. In 'Digital Twins', students learn how to simulate
the physical world using virtual replicas. ‘Monitoring & Prognostics'
aims at preventing production line failures and reducing
maintenance costs. ‘Operations Management Strategies' introduces
students to different business strategies. ‘Smart Factory Design’
focuses on digital tools and models to design smart factories
and processes. For this purpose, virtual replicas and digital twins
are used, which were discussed in the first main course.
Advanced Master
Although the new postgraduate may present itself as a standalone
programme, it cannot be separated from the broader
picture. “In fact, the postgraduate degree is part of the Advanced
Master of Science in Smart Operations & Maintenance in Industry
that will be launched in Bruges and Kortrijk in 2023,” explains
Prof. Pissoort. “This means that anyone who successfully
completes the postgraduate programme can enrol directly in the
Advanced Master’s and benefits from exemptions. This formula
makes it easier to combine the training with a job or family.
In addition, educational such as hybrid and virtual classrooms
allows us to adapt a blended teaching method. There will be a
mix between live contact moments and learning material that
can be processed at one’s own pace.”
About the target group of the new postgraduate programme,
Jorie says: “We are initially aiming for Master’s in Engineering
Science or Engineering Technology. The most suitable majors are
(Electro)Mechanical Engineering, Electronics & ICT Engineering,
Machine & Production Automation, Energy and Business System
Engineering and Operational Research. If you do not have such
a degree, you may be admitted if you can demonstrate that you
have the necessary professional experience.”
The students who start in the autumn do not have to worry about
their future. Many doors will open for them in various sectors and
companies ranging from SMEs to multinationals. “All operationally
intensive companies are already waiting impatiently for the first
smart O&M engineers,” concludes Jorie.
Yves Persoons
www.smart-OM.eu
CONNECTING
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