António Henrique Almeida

Abstract
The rise of smart manufacturing environments, characterized by high quantity of data/information available, contributes to a growing interest and research towards the use of immersive technologies not only in factories but also across entire value chains. New immersive technologies and devices are being developed to improve cooperation within Collaborative Networks (CNs), especially in the human-machine hybrid networks context. The application of these technologies in such complex environments expands substantially the modes how information is delivered and used, which may exacerbate one of the oldest problems of cognitive ergonomics: information overload. Therefore, this work presents applications of immersive technologies in manufacturing into the perspective of “information work” and “immersive human-centered manufacturing systems”. A framework is proposed to be developed in a FabLab to understand the worker needs and interactions. This FabLab aims to demonstrate the potential/real application of immersive technologies, towards the enhancement of the human worker cognitive capabilities. © 2020, IFIP International Federation for Information Processing.

Abstract
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Europe risk their competitiveness if they fail to embrace digitalization. Indeed, SMEs are aware of the need to digitalize—more than one in two SMEs are concerned that they may lose competitiveness if they do not adopt new digital technologies. However, a key obstacle is related with decision-makers’ lack of awareness concerning digital technologies potential and implications. Some decision-makers renounce digital transition simply because they do not understand how it can be incorporated into the business. Take into account this common reality, especially among SMEs, this research project intends to identify the skills and subjects that need to be addressed and suggests the educational methodology and implementation strategy capable of maximizing its success. Therefore, and supported by a focused group research methodology, an innovative training program, oriented to decision-makers, was designed and implemented. The program was conceived based on a self-directed learning methodology, combining both asynchronous lecture/expositive and active training methodologies, strongly based on state-of-the-art knowledge and supported by reference cases and real applications. It is intended that the trainees/participants become familiar with a comprehensive set of concepts, principles, methodologies, and tools, capable of significantly enhancing decision-making capability at both strategic and tactical level. The proposed programme with a multidisciplinary scope explores different thematic chapters (self-contained) as well as cross-cutting thematic disciplines, oriented to the Industry 4.0 and digital transformation paradigm. Topics related with Digital Maturity Assessment, Smart Factories and Flexible Production Systems, Big Data, and Artificial Intelligence for Smarter Decision-Making in Industry and Smart Materials and Products, as well as new production processes for new business models. Each thematic chapter in turn is structured around a variable set of elementary modules and includes examples and case studies to illustrate the selected topics. A teaching-learning methodology centered on an online platform is proposed, having as a central element, a collection of videos complemented by a set of handouts that organize the set of key messages and take-ways associated with each module. In this paper, we present the design and practice of this training course specifically oriented to decision-makers in SME.

Abstract
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Europe are conscious that their competitive position depends on their success to embrace digitalisation challenges. However, some decision-makers in companies discard digital transformation because they do not understand how it can be incorporated into their businesses. Therefore, academia, research centres, and technological clusters are responsible for building the infrastructures and providing the support and the training that will progressively change this mindset. This paper aims to report an experience on designing a training program to train the trainers under the digital transformation topic. To define strategies to understand better the companies (and professionals) needs and motivations and the requisites to deliver the training course, the focus group methodology was applied. In this paper, we present a training program methodology and structure that intend to respond to industrial requests and, in this way to accelerate the digital transformation of companies, especially SMEs. © 2021, IFIP International Federation for Information Processing.

Abstract
We live in a world where companies are shifting to the industry 4.0 paradigm. One of the pillars of Industry 4.0 is the digitalization of physical assets and manufacturing processes, moving toward the Cyber-Physical Production Systems concept (CPPS). In these systems, every component of the production process - machines, tools, workstations, etc. - is equipped with sensors, possesses information about itself, and can interact with each other, allowing the production of smaller batches at lower prices and increase product customization through adaptative processes. Consequently, companies are evolving their information systems to have more visibility and control over their production systems. This change increases both the production system's agility and its vulnerability to communication and information related disruptions. Hence, companies that adhere to Industry 4.0 enabling technologies must adopt new methodologies and tools to become aware of the new risks that arise by the introduction of new digital platforms, their impacts in the production systems, and how they may react to remain resilient. In this paper, disruption events and adequate mitigation strategies are analysed, modelled, and simulated as part of a methodology designed to measure the impacts of disruptive events on the production system. © 2021 The authors and IOS Press.

Abstract
The manufacturing industry faces a new revolution, grounded on the intense digitalization of assets and industrial processes and the increasing computation capabilities imposed by the new data-driven digital architectures. This reality has been promoting the Digital Twin (DT) concept and its importance on the industrial companies' business models. However, with these new opportunities, also new threads may rise, mainly related to industrial data protection and sovereignty. Therefore, this research paper will demonstrate the International Data Spaces (IDS) reference model's application to overcome these limitations. Following a pilot study with a Portuguese machine manufacturing company, this paper will demonstrate the development of a cutting and bending machines DT, leveraged on an IDS infrastructure for interoperability, for the plastic and metal industry and its importance to introduce this machine manufacturing company in a new B2B marketplace from the EU project Market 4.0. © 2021 The authors and IOS Press.