They are developing the production technology lab of the future

What does a production technology laboratory look like that both strengthens education and meets the needs of the manufacturing industry? This is what two students at University West have tackled in their degree project - work that will now have a direct impact on the development of a new lab within the framework of the PTC Innovation Accelerator.

During the spring, Anton Andersson and Joel Zetterström, students in industrial economics at University West, have worked to identify needs and design a proposal for a new production lab linked to the Production Technology Center in Trollhättan. The work was presented during a workshop on June 5 for feedback from the project group within the Production Technology Center with participants from several industrial companies, innovation support organizations and academia.

A lab for Industry 5.0

The students' assignment was to design a lab that strengthens the link between education, research and industry, with a particular focus on digitalization. Their work was based on design thinking and involved stakeholders through interviews, workshops and benchmarking with other lab environments - including Assar in Skövde, Volvo Lean Lab and University West's clinical learning center. In connection with the students' presentation, the university's Roy Anderssson told about Georgia State University in the USA, where companies have access to mobile lab stations.

The students' conclusion? The lab must be modular, flexible and scalable - and above all based on real needs:

- "We have seen that there is a risk that lab environments become too complex for smaller companies to adopt. Our proposal is therefore based on being able to start on a small scale, with a clear function and link to concrete challenges," says Joel Zetterström.

Simulation and traceability at the center

The proposal includes two main stations. The first one can show a virtual production flow and demonstrates digital twins and traceability for manual manufacturing. The second focuses on the implementation of a Manufacturing Execution System (MES) with elements such as pick-by-light and ergonomics stations - a system that allows the collection and visualization of data from production in real time.

- By connecting these stations, you can show how an MES system affects production and how it can be used to plan and improve flows," says Anton Andersson.

A tool for learning and co-creation

It also became clear that the lab must function as a platform for co-creation where both students and companies can develop knowledge, but it also requires structure to utilize the knowledge generated. Several participants highlighted the need for a common database and that the lab should be open to both small and large companies as they often operate in the same ecosystem.

- The lab will reflect real industrial needs. My vision is to be able to go through a company's workshop, and together with companies, academia and students identify challenges - and then work with these in the lab, says Ulf Hulling, program manager for industrial economics at University West.

Next steps - a concept proposal

The students' work is an important starting point for the further development of the lab within the PTC Innovation Accelerator. The project team will now work on the feedback from the workshop participants to develop a first concept proposal.

- The ecosystem of companies, academia and innovation support actors is crucial for this to be relevant and sustainable over time. This degree project has given us a concrete basis on which to build," says Håkan Hellström, industrial developer at IUC West.