Advanced digitalization for the Wood, Furniture, and Cork Manufacturing Sector

Aim of the course:

This module aims to introduce students to the fundamental concepts of digitalisation applied to industrial environments (with special attention to the production of wood and furniture), providing them with knowledge and practical tools to understand, analyse and support digital transformation in real work contexts. Students will explore how data, connectivity, automation and digital systems (such as sensors, ERP/MES solutions and cloud platforms) improve process control, traceability, quality and decision-making, also addressing key aspects such as cybersecurity and change management. 

The course promotes a critical and applied understanding of digitalization, encouraging the transfer of what has been learned into authentic situations: from mapping processes and identifying opportunities for improvement to selecting appropriate technologies and defining indicators to measure impact. At the end of the module, students will be able to interpret digital workflows, collaborate effectively in digitized teams, and contribute to more efficient, competitive, and resilient production environments.

Main ideas:

1. Introduce digitalization in the wood and furniture industry to improve process management with connected data and technologies.
2. Understand IT and OT and promote their integration to avoid “islands” and improve coordination between office and plant.
3. Explore DET and their impact, aligning tools with business objectives and efficiency in the sector.
4. Develop criteria to choose cloud-edge and hybrid architectures according to processes and needs in real time.
5. Introduce AI and Big Data with industry use cases and foundations for their practical application.
6. Analyze processes to detect improvements and select technologies appropriate to the real needs of the company.