Lab scale implementation of industry 4.0 for an automatic yogurt filling production system—experimentation, modeling and process optimization

Abstract

Currently, Industry 4.0 is word of mouth, and its implementation has gained increased attention from industrial and academic researchers, entrepreneurs, and service providers all over the world. With Industry 4.0, the integration of facilities and products enables real-time data exchange, and the overall production system becomes self-reliant and intelligent to predict and maintain its operational performance. In this research, the lab-scale implementation of Industry 4.0 is implemented for an automatic yogurt filling production system. A mathematical model for the process optimization of Industry 4.0 was also developed. A real-life problem was solved optimally using linear programming techniques with the objective of maximizing the speed of the conveyor belt. Moreover, the sequencing of processing orders using single-dimensional rules was performed. The effects of changes in the feed rate of the yogurt valve and length of the conveyor belt on the feed rate of the flavor valve, speed of conveyor belt, waiting time, processing times, and the different performance measures were investigated at the end.