Grant: College and Community Innovation Program

Competitive Smart Manufacturing (CSM) is the holistic application of advanced manufacturing and Industry 4.0 technologies, information strategies, and data analytics, overlaid onto the fundamentals of LEAN manufacturing, to improve traditional approaches to manufacturing and boost competitiveness. The CSM Program at Georgian College (Georgian) responds to local industry and municipal partners, who recognize a lack of support in Central Ontario for companies who need help adjusting to and taking advantage of advanced manufacturing and Industry 4.0 strategies. Georgian's CSM Program has grown slowly over the past two years. With NSERC funding, Georgian will double its CSM activity within five years; increasing the number of CSM research projects from 13 in 2018 to 28 by 2023. Industry events, showcases, and research days will add value to our industry network, create mixing opportunities for students, industry, faculty and community partners, and place Georgian at the center of Industry 4.0 activities in the region. The Program is delivered from the Alectra Centre for Research, Innovation and Commercialization (C-RIC), located within Georgian's new facility, the Advanced Technology Centre. The College recently invested $600K to equip the C-RIC with most of the Industry 4.0 infrastructure required by the CSM Program. Additional required equipment (virtual reality system; 3D scanner and printer; fabrication machinery) will be purchased with BUILD IE funds. CSM projects will focus on the development of smart products & production systems, IoT connectivity, and automation & robotics. Training of industry, students and faculty on advanced manufacturing and Industry 4.0 technologies is also a priority. This program will propel a new manufacturing paradigm for companies in Central Ontario. Through this NSERC-supported program, Georgian will complete 103 CSM projects with regional industry partners, most whom are small/medium-sized businesses; engage 23 Georgian researchers (12 full-time and 11 part-time by 2023), bring on one technologist for the C-RIC and CSM Program, and engage 455 students (95 paid researchers; 110 unpaid researchers; and 250 participating through events and in-class CSM activities).