Project Clusters
The IMS Project Clustering Platform facilitates ongoing projects to share knowledge, provide broader solutions in less time, reduce research costs, and expand networks through building of international coalitions.
IMS selects a member region to lead each cluster and its activities
ISMA – Industrial Smart Materials Applications
ISMA is a “Key Technology” Manufacturing Technology Platform (MTP) project where smart materials are the key technology. Six keywords are associated with the title to provide the scope of the initiative. Manufacture: How do we manufacture durable materials with embedded sensors and communication technologies?
Build: What construction processes or assembly procedures change or are required to support these new materials?
Monitor: How should we pre-process, post-process, and manage the collected data?
Assess: Given data, what does it tell us about the condition and health of that struc- ture or machine?
Predict: How can assessments through time be carried forward to predict future status.
Manage: Given predictions, what repair and maintenance actions should be taken to extend the service life with an optimal use of resources?
IF7 – Phase I and II: Innovative and Intelligent Field Factory
-
Researched assembly methods for large-scale structures, like houses, ships, etc.: From “construction” to “manufacturing”
-
Mechanization systems for assembly of large-scale structures
-
Application of autonomous agent to construction management in field factory
-
Construction of database to manage parts
IADP: Improving Productivity Automation Systems Design Process
-
Defines terminology specific to batch control systems that will encourage understanding between manufacturers and users.
-
Provides a standard data structure batch control language to simplify the programming, configuration tasks, and communication between the various components of the system.
-
Provides a standard data structure for batch systems that will simplify the task of data communications within the system architecture.
-
Determines a standard batch control architecture that defines both the physical model and the functional model. The physical model is the hierarchical structure that relates control equipment and data communications needed for the physical areas involved in batch control. The functional model shows the relationships between the five types of control recipe management, scheduling, sequential control, regulatory control, and safety interlock systems.
Analytics Cluster
This cluster aims to capture data for energy monitoring including areas such as audit, ID product requirements, analyze data. It will also explore machine learning and AI in relation to self-teaching and repair in order to use for data forecasting that learns over time to apply to equipment failure.
Power in Numbers Cluster
This cluster’s goal is to provide SMEs exposure to and acclimation to using an ERP system. Alliance/consortium in getting a software provider interested in providing 5-6 companies under one license. Siloed data, full use of ERP. The value proposition for a software company is an increase in sales, proving ROI for individual licenses. Coordination with academia is also needed.
Workforce and Skills Cluster
This initiative would seek to boost the visibility of manufacturing positions, and to highlight the attractiveness of those positions. Efforts include creating awareness of existing manufacturing jobs, encouraging curiosity regarding manufactured products, facilitating factory tours for students, and establishing a shadowing and mentorship program for students.