José Coelho Rodrigues

Abstract

Abstract
Doctoral programmes are facing several challenges in modern societies. The societal role of the University, funded by the state, requires it to: a) increase the offer and admission of third cycle students; b) to reach industry/companies expectations; c) to ensure reasonable employability prospects for the PhD candidates. With the current demography, most candidates can only find a job in industry/companies. Therefore, significant pressure is being put on doctoral programmes to include transferable skills in their curriculum. This paper presents a course "Fit for Industry?" aiming at filling this need. The course design methodology is presented in detail. It includes: a) the involvement of industry since its inception; b) the joint identification of a small number of key competencies to be addressed; c) the inclusion of assessment and feedback mechanisms in its design; d) an immersive and international dimension. It was found that the course had a profound impact on the candidates' perceptions of industry and valued by industry participants. Other stakeholders, such as PhD supervisors, also had a positive perception. The paper concludes with recommendations for those willing to replicate the course locally.

Abstract
This works intends to be a reduced, but complete literature review about the role of the implementation process in the new technological paradigm for manufacturing, called "Industry 4.0". This is a very recent subject that already generated a wide range of literature and discussion, although it had not yet been studied in-depth, making the term "industry 4.0" and its related concepts blurrier than concrete. The expression "implementation of industry 4.0" is too wide, since it is the result of the implementation of "industry 4.0" technologies and not the paradigm per se. The main objective of this work is to study what is known until now about the implementation of "industry 4.0". With that objective, this paper starts by presenting a definition of what is "industry 4.0" and contextualizing it in today's manufacturing environment. Then some preconditions that are required for the implementation of "industry 4.0" are presented, followed by the specificities that some particular technologies have.

Abstract

Abstract
Cyber-physical systems (CPS) are a new generation of systems that integrate computation and physical processes interacting with humans in different ways. Integrated networks of computers, sensors and similar technologies monitor and control the physical processes, reporting relevant data to planners and decision-makers, and vice versa. By means of case research, this paper analyzes the implementation of cyber-physical systems aiming at lead-time reduction in two manufacturing contexts, namely footwear and natural cork stoppers. The results of this research contribute to literature and practice with a conceptual framework for the implementation of cyber-physical systems and the discussion of the challenges of implementing this technology.