Learning Factory: A Proposed Framework for Engineering Learning Ecology by Automated Manufacturing System Kits

Abstract

In the engineering education program, how to help engineering students fully understand the concept and practical procedure in industry, especially, mechatronic engineering students are encouraged to learn many concepts related to industrial, especially the challenges of Industry 4.0 technology. However, the industrial process is complex and lacks learning material covering the industrial manufacturing context, causing engineering students with no experience and knowledge of automated manufacturing technology. It is necessary to educate the next generation of student engineering, but the learning tools needed for education are often expensive, and lack of funding to buy learning material. Most importantly, technology changes and evolves rapidly. This study offers the development of an automated manufacturing system learning kit that can be used to teach engineering education. It consists of three stations: loading, assembly, and warehouse packing. In addition, the learning factory ecosystem presented in this study aims at a much broader use of novel learning methods to introduce mechatronics engineering students to understand the new digital manufacturing process. The study results inspire instructors and educational institutions to prepare engineering students with the knowledge and practical skills based on the learning factory ecosystem.