M4I4, Mathematics for Industry 4.0

This event is organized by the Italian Society for Applied and Industrial Mathematics (SIMAI).

In this CAE Conference satellite meeting academics and professionals explored some of the current challenges and opportunities for research in mathematics with an emphasis on Industry 4.0 applications.

Mathematics and computer science has had enormous effects on industrial innovation, even instrumental to open up new type of business, like the Page Rank algorithm at the base of Google web search procedures.

Industry 4.0 opens up new challenges to the industrial as well as to applied mathematicians. For instance, how to analyze the huge amount of, often heterogeneous, data potentially at disposal in order to provide useful information in a timely manner, how to integrate data awareness in the mathematical models that drive the optimization of industrial processes, logistics, production planning and supply chain management.

And again, how to address data security issues, data variability and uncertainties.
To meet these challenges we need to foster a better awareness among industrial managers as well as mathematicians in academia of the key role of research in mathematics for Industry 4.0.

AIM OF THE EVENT

To gather managers and researchers both from Industry and Academia to increase the awareness on the role of mathematics to the themes of industry 4.0, and industrial innovation in general. Increase the knowledge of SIMAI and of its role for industry.

TARGET AUDIENCE

Industrial researchers, technical managers, academics in the field of applied mathematics.

ORGANISING COMMITTEE

Ottavio Crivaro, MOXOFF SpA
Giorgio Fotia, CRS4
Edie Miglio, Politecnico di Milano
Manolo Venturin, EnginSoft SpA

  AGENDA

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Plenary SESSION

Dietmar Hoemberg, President of ECMI

The Digital Factory - a perspective for a closer cooperation between Math and Industry

Abstract

By definition, the digital factory represents a network of digital models and methods of simulation and 3D visualisation for the holistic planning, realisation, control and ongoing improvement of all factory processes related to a specific product. In the last five or ten years all industrialised countries have launched initiatives to realise this vision, sometimes also referred to as Industry 4.0 (in Europe) or Smart Manufacturing (US). In my presentation I will use this example to highlight chances and pitfalls in the collaboration between mathematics, engineering, and industry. I will present case studies showing how mathematics will be able to contribute towards digital manufacturing and close with some remarks about the perspective of collaboration between math and industry in Europe.

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Simone Vantini, MOX, Politecnico di Milano

A few examples of Functional Data Analysis in Business and Industrial Applications

Abstract

The continuous and outstanding advances of measurement technologies have enabled the collection and storage of high-resolution data which can often be modeled as smooth functions (e.g., curves or surfaces). This kind of data are at the basis of functional data analysis (FDA) which is a well- known lively and expanding research area of modern statistics. In FDA, the classical concept for scalar or multivariate random variable is indeed replaced by the concept of functional random variable. Consequently, in FDA the typical data set is not made of numbers or Euclidean vectors but a collection of functions embedded in a suitable separable functional Hilbert space meant to formalize application-specific relations between sample units. Recent applications of FDA techniques in different and many fields of science are countless. Nevertheless, very few business and industrial applications can be found, thus pointing out the existence of an unexploited potential of this type of techniques in these two fields. With respect to this discrepancy, after a gentle introduction to FDA, this talk will showcase some recent business and industrial applications in which state-of- the-art FDA techniques are fruitfully used.

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Nevio Dubbini, Miningful Studio

Maths, stats, experience and data products

Abstract

Miningful Studio specializes in extracting and processing hidden information in the complexity of data, transforming them into decisions, making predictions more accurately, and responding readily to the needs of the market. By combining data analysis, algorithms, mathematical modelling, and a team of data scientists, Miningful Studio transforms complex data into meaningful results, communicative visualizations and effective stories. We operate both in business and academic settings. We specialize in the following areas: digital publishing, cultural heritage, precision agriculture, healthcare, and pharmaceuticals. A couple of case studies will be used to show how data science and practical experience are combined to provide data products.

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Cristiano Malossi, IBM Research GmbH

Automatic Discovery of Deep Neural Network Architectures for Industrial Applications

Other Authors

Roxana Istrate, Costas Bekas

Abstract

Neural networks have proven to solve effectively very difficult problems such as object recognition and classification, speech recognition, automatic translation, text generation, up to gameplay. However, the design of new neural network architectures is still considered a challenging task, driven by an empirical process based on human decisions and manual parameters tuning. Even the most experienced architect would take order of months to design a successful architecture for a new industrial-specific dataset.
Indeed, despite the tremendous success of deep learning, there is still a very limited understanding on the underlying mechanism that allows a network to learn. At IBM Research, we realize that a major leap in neural network application on real industrial problems can occur only by unveiling and understanding those mechanisms. Doing that, we would not only be able to train, but also to design new networks automatically, leading to a by far more scalable and widely applicable process. In this talk we briefly present our current research advancements in this direction, and discuss how potentially mathematicians can help us achieving this ambitious goal.

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Michele Piana, Università di Genova

I4.0, IoT, big data and the effort of mathematicians to sort all this out

Abstract

This talk will provide my personal viewpoint about the following issues:
• Is Industry 4.0 an actual revolution? • Does IoT really make things smarter? • Are big data really big? • Which is the role of mathematics and of mathematicians in all this?
In order to discuss such viewpoint, I will utilize examples and results concerning the application of mathematical models and methods in physics and physiology.

This full presentation is not available

Enrico Busto, Addfor SpA

Fabio Iannello, Tecniplast SpA

and Luca Turconi, MOXOFF SpA

Augmented animal welfare via industry 4.0 digital innovation

Abstract

Manufacturing industry is under a rapid development for both production processes and products, with the making of high flexible and customizable devices (the so called Industry 4.0). The possibility to add sensors to the products, to collect data and to exploit the information underlying has a key role towards innovative devices and services. Data are driving a silent revolution in manufacturing, leading “traditional” industries from the production of merely physical things to a profitable synergy of material and immaterial goods. While data analysis is acknowledged as a driver of the market of services companies, its potential is still to be fully exploited for goods produced by the manufacturing industry. In this context, Moxoff developed machine learning algorithms to identify trends and classifying the states of a system through the analysis of data recorded real-time by electronic sensors. Tecniplast have been developing a new innovative line of cages that supplements the usual devices needed to take care of laboratory animals with movement sensors. The AI algorithms exploit the potential of the data collected by the sensors, to help the final clients of the cages to optimize their core business activities. Facility managers benefit of predictive maintenance tools to enhance the care of the animals. Researchers collect much more information to analyze the animal behavior during their experiments. The presence of cage sensors is a true revolution in the correspondent Laboratory Animal Industry because it leads to provide several new and unique benefits without affecting the current way of housing animals.

This full presentation is not available

Carlo Torniai, Pirelli SpA

The role of Data Scientist in Manufacturing

Abstract

In this talk I will describe how Pirelli has grown from scratch a Data Science and Analytics department. I will give an overview of the kind of projects, roadmap and Vision we have for Industry 4.0 in Pirelli with a particular focus on the approach we have adopted to create synergies between factories, management and Data Scientists.

This full presentation is not available

Christophe Prud'homme, AMIES

This full presentation is not available

Tavola rotonda (italiano)

Fiorenzo Bellelli, Warrant Group Srl

Silvia Vermicelli, Sportello Matematico per l'Industria Italiana

Luca Prati, Mathesia Srl

Luca Formaggia, President of SIMAI

Roberto Tiezzi, TTO Politecnico di Milano

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