Zoom link: https://kaust.zoom.us/j/93470060850
ID: 93470060850
The accelerated pace of climate change, pandemic, and technological advancement in the manufacturing area is pushing the global industry towards digitization, sustainability, and automation. The fifth industrial revolution, Industry 5.0, brings unique opportunities to redefine target roadmaps based on human-centric manufacturing, sustainability, and resilience. Together with the landmark technologies of Industry 4.0, such as robotics, artificial intelligence, smart systems, and digitization, the societal relevance of the technologies is the key for future industries. The Smart & Sustainable Manufacturing Systems Laboratory (SMART Lab) at the University of Alberta, founded and led by Dr. Rafiq Ahmad, supports the Canadian industry in such ventures.
Dr. Ahmad is a leading expert in sustainable and smart manufacturing systems/technologies to enable innovations in industries through digitization (Industry 4.0), machine learning (artificial intelligence), smart additive manufacturing, intelligent automation, and clean and green technologies (Industry 5.0). This presentation will emphasize practical engineering solutions based on innovative systems design, creative problem-solving, and robotization to enhance future industries’ sustainability, safety, and resilience.
Dr. Rafiq Ahmad is an Associate Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Alberta. He is also a Faculty Associate at the Nasseri School of Building Sciences and Engineering at the University of Alberta. He is the founder and director of the “Smart & Sustainable Manufacturing Systems Laboratory (SMART Lab)”, which focuses on systems design and engineering. Dr. Ahmad is also the founder and director of “Aquaponics 4.0 Learning Factory (AllFactory),” a unique learning factory researching system design and development for plants and fish production in an indoor, vertical, symbiotic ecosystem soil-less environment. His research interest includes smart engineering systems design, technologies development, digitization, lean manufacturing, hybrid manufacturing, additive manufacturing, robotics, and green technologies (3Rs: recycling, remanufacturing, and repair).
Dr. Ahmad is a Ph.D. in advanced manufacturing from Ecole Centrale de Nantes, France, and Master’s in design and manufacturing from ENSAM-Paris, France. He holds a BSc. Degree in Mechanical Engineering from the UET-Peshawar, Pakistan. Dr. Ahmad obtained a two-year Post-doctoral fellowship from the University of Luxembourg. Dr. Ahmad is a board member of the International Society of Automation - Edmonton (as Co-UofA Student Section Advisor) and a member of APEGA, CSME, and ASME. He is also an active editor, reviewer, and organizer of numerous international conferences and journals. Dr. Ahmad is the recipient of the prestigious Edmonton’s 2022 Top 40 under 40 Award by Edify Magazine for his serial innovation and streamlined technology development to impact our society. He is also the director and founder of the Canadian not-for-profit ProBEEs Digital Education Society.
University of Alberta