Challenges in Implementing Industry 4 Laboratories and Learning Factories in Academia

Abstract

Specialised laboratories and learning factories can play a significant role in developing and advancing the Industry 4 concept and production systems. However, there are many challenges that need to be addressed before creating qualified laboratories that have true Industry 4 characteristics. Some of those challenges originate from the varied definitions of Industry 4, from what different institutions and research groups consider critical/trivial to implement in a laboratory, from Universities' policies and regulations, and even taxation rules. Many challenges derive from the complexity of the Industry 4 eco-system and its continuous evolution. The objective of this paper is to provide a systematic analysis of the challenges in implementing viable Industry 4 laboratories in academia. These challenges need to be defined explicitly before they can be addressed, and relevant laboratories developed to maximise the success of what can be significant investment.