ConnectING 19 juni 2022
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POSTGRADUATE SMART<br />
OPERATIONS & MAINTENANCE<br />
IN INDUSTRY<br />
Interuniversity and embedded. Those are two major strengths of the postgraduate<br />
'Smart Operations & Maintenance in Industry' that will start in September <strong>2022</strong>.<br />
The programme is organised by KU Leuven and Ghent University and taught by mixed<br />
teaching teams. Moreover, it is the precursor to an Advanced Master of the same name.<br />
Prof. Davy Pissoort, Programme Director and Jorie Soltic, Programme Coordinator explain.<br />
' State-of-the-art technology in two historical cities in Europe',<br />
is how the new study programme profiles itself at home<br />
and abroad. The historical name and fame of the twin cities<br />
Bruges and Kortrijk need no further explanation. Prof. Davy<br />
Pissoort does have something to say about the state-of-the-art<br />
technology. “The qualification 'smart' is crucial. This refers to the<br />
digital transformation that is currently taking place in all sectors<br />
of the economy. Information and data technologies are now an<br />
integral part of modern manufacturing and the associated<br />
operations and maintenance. The latter, in turn, have become<br />
inseparable. Maintenance allows operational processes to run<br />
as smoothly and undisturbed as possible by ensuring that all<br />
equipment and infrastructure required for production is always<br />
functioning 100% efficiently. Operational excellence has become<br />
the goal of every company in Industry 4.0”.<br />
Main courses<br />
“Operational excellence presupposes excellent professionals who<br />
must be excellently trained,” Jorie continues. “That brings us to<br />
the objectives of the programme. We aim to educate experts<br />
who can optimise both operational and maintenance processes<br />
by making them smart by using innovative technologies such as<br />
robotics, big data analysis, digital twins, cloud computing, etc.<br />
Our programme covers technologies that facilitate the digitalisation<br />
of product and process information and connect equipment,<br />
assents, and people. Concrete applications are smart sensors,<br />
robots, and industrial Internet-of-Things platforms”.<br />
The postgraduate programme consists of four main courses of<br />
6 ECTS each. In 'Digital Twins', students learn how to simulate<br />
the physical world using virtual replicas. ‘Monitoring & Prognostics'<br />
aims at preventing production line failures and reducing<br />
maintenance costs. ‘Operations Management Strategies' introduces<br />
students to different business strategies. ‘Smart Factory Design’<br />
focuses on digital tools and models to design smart factories<br />
and processes. For this purpose, virtual replicas and digital twins<br />
are used, which were discussed in the first main course.<br />
Advanced Master<br />
Although the new postgraduate may present itself as a standalone<br />
programme, it cannot be separated from the broader<br />
picture. “In fact, the postgraduate degree is part of the Advanced<br />
Master of Science in Smart Operations & Maintenance in Industry<br />
that will be launched in Bruges and Kortrijk in 2023,” explains<br />
Prof. Pissoort. “This means that anyone who successfully<br />
completes the postgraduate programme can enrol directly in the<br />
Advanced Master’s and benefits from exemptions. This formula<br />
makes it easier to combine the training with a job or family.<br />
In addition, educational such as hybrid and virtual classrooms<br />
allows us to adapt a blended teaching method. There will be a<br />
mix between live contact moments and learning material that<br />
can be processed at one’s own pace.”<br />
About the target group of the new postgraduate programme,<br />
Jorie says: “We are initially aiming for Master’s in Engineering<br />
Science or Engineering Technology. The most suitable majors are<br />
(Electro)Mechanical Engineering, Electronics & ICT Engineering,<br />
Machine & Production Automation, Energy and Business System<br />
Engineering and Operational Research. If you do not have such<br />
a degree, you may be admitted if you can demonstrate that you<br />
have the necessary professional experience.”<br />
The students who start in the autumn do not have to worry about<br />
their future. Many doors will open for them in various sectors and<br />
companies ranging from SMEs to multinationals. “All operationally<br />
intensive companies are already waiting impatiently for the first<br />
smart O&M engineers,” concludes Jorie.<br />
Yves Persoons<br />
www.smart-OM.eu<br />
CONNECTING<br />
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