Learning Factory with Product Configurator for Teaching Product Family Modelling and Systems Integration

This paper presents a new approach for teaching product family modelling, product configurator and systems integration in engineering masters educations as well as for teaching industry professionals. Based on a recently acquired smart production lab, containing a reconfigurable manufacturing system with a manufacturing execution system (MES), being able to produce individually configured products, a new learning approach was introduced. Previous approaches to teaching product family modelling and product configuration have focused on achieving specific individual learning objectives in desk exercises. However, in this revised approach, lab resources are increasingly being involved, which gives the students a more in-depth value chain perspective as well learning additional aspects of systems integration.