About this Concentration
The Smart Manufacturing Concentration prepares students to design, implement, and optimize modern industrial automation systems that integrate control, data, connectivity, and analytics. This concentration bridges traditional industrial control with emerging Industry 4.0 technologies, equipping graduates with the technical depth required to support advanced manufacturing environments.
Students develop expertise in programmable logic controllers (PLCs), industrial control systems, instrumentation and data acquisition, electronic motor drives, embedded systems, industrial communication networks, and machine learning applications for manufacturing analytics. Coursework emphasizes hands-on, project-based learning in industrial automation, real-time control, sensor integration, power electronics, embedded IoT systems, and cloud-based machine learning deployment.
The concentration builds a hierarchical understanding of manufacturing systems-from device-level sensing and actuation to enterprise-level analytics and intelligent decision-making. Students learn to design safe and reliable control systems, develop computer-based data acquisition applications, implement advanced motor drive control strategies, interface embedded systems across wired and wireless protocols, and deploy AI-driven solutions to improve manufacturing performance.
Graduates are prepared for roles in industrial automation, controls engineering, smart manufacturing systems integration, robotics and embedded systems development, manufacturing analytics, and Industry 4.0 implementation across sectors such as automotive, energy, aerospace, advanced materials, and high-tech production.
This concentration is ideal for students seeking careers at the intersection of electrical systems, automation, data intelligence, and advanced manufacturing technologies.
