With Mizzou Engineering’s Industry 4.0 Certificate, career professionals are learning to lead the next advances in manufacturing.
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Assistant Professor Yi Wang ,right, show Carlos Casares Camacho how to control a universal robot in this summer’s smart manufacturing course, part of the Industry 4.0 Certificate program.
Originally published by Mizzou Engineering
At Mizzou Engineering, we believe lifelong learning is essential, especially in a world where technology evolves rapidly. That’s why we’re committed to providing opportunities not only for early-career engineers but also for experienced professionals ready to take their skills to the next level.
To meet the growing demand for advanced manufacturing expertise, we’ve launched the Industry 4.0 Certificate, a hybrid program to equip today’s technical experts with the know-how to thrive and lead in tomorrow’s smart manufacturing environments.
“The landscape is changing,” said Jim Noble, chair of the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering. “Manufacturers are increasing their adoption of industrial automation, robotics and other advanced technologies. Professionals need to advance their knowledge and skillsets to stay competitive in this evolving environment.”
Industrial engineers are at the forefront of this transformation, developing strategic and technical solutions to reduce costs, improve quality and boost productivity across all manufacturing sectors.
“Mizzou ISE has a distinguished history of developing top industry leaders,” Noble said. “We train students to become systems thinkers — experts at integrating data, people and technology. Our programs emphasize experiential learning, preparing graduates to solve real-world challenges.”
Developed in partnership with the MU Career Accelerator, the Industry 4.0 Certificate is a six-week course that blends online instruction and weekly hands-on labs on the Mizzou campus.
Career professionals can earn certificates in manufacturing methods, industrial robotics, industrial automation and smart manufacturing. Those who complete two topic certificates can earn an Industry 4.0 certificate.
Associate Teaching Professor Mike Klote guided participants through industrial automation this summer.
“This is a gateway to mastering the technologies transforming manufacturing,” Klote said. “It’s for anyone who works in manufacturing and wants to prepare for new roles and advance in their career.”
“Students are bound to learn something new that they can put to practical use,” said Brad Pikey, who took the Industry 4.0 Industrial Automation course this summer.
Brad Pikey is a senior process engineer at Solventum, where he focuses on improvement and optimization opportunities. He plans to return for another Industry 4.0 course next summer and recommended the program to other professionals.
“This the first academic experience I’ve ever had where I was sad when it was over,” he said. “I was really impressed with the amount that I was able to learn.”
Solventum manufacturing engineer Carl Jantum said he had already taken ideas from the course and implemented them on the job.
“With knowledge from the course, I can articulate better about what we are observing when the equipment is running, and ideas on how to improve,” he said.
“Mizzou Engineering prepares students to tackle the challenges of tomorrow whether their first-year undergraduates or mid-career professionals,” Noble said. “Either way, we’ll set you up for career success.”
Want to advance your manufacturing career? Discover what an Industry 4.0 certificate can do for you.