International Scientific Journals
of Scientific Technical Union of Mechanical Engineering "Industry 4.0"

The rapid advancement of Industry 4.0 technologies has significantly transformed manufacturing environments, necessitating the adoption of intelligent and scalable solutions. MESWARM is a modern platform designed to digitize and optimize manufacturing processes, offering industrial enterprises a means to enhance efficiency, reliability, and sustainability. By integrating traditional Manufacturing Execution System functionalities with cutting-edge technologies such as Artificial Intelligence and the Internet of Things, MESWARM provides a flexible, modular system tailored to specific production needs. It’s architecture and key functionalities are outlined, highlighting its core modules such as Configuration, Production Management, and IoT. The potential of future modules, including Service Management, Adaptive Logic, Energy Management, Document Management, and AI-driven analytics, is also explored. By leveraging real-time data collection and analysis through MQTT-based communication, MESWARM facilitates precise production monitoring and predictive maintenance, minimizing downtime and enhancing operational decision-making. Real-world implementations are examined, showcasing its impact on production efficiency and system scalability.

The aim of this research is to develop and implement a smart microfactory concept for use in engineering studies as well as for the overall promotion of technical studies at TTK Tallinn University of Applied Sciences. The microfactory allows students to directly engage with a small-scale manufacturing cycle which includes many of the processes found in an actual industrial factory, such as production planning, material handling, quality control and production feedback and optimisation. Pencil sharpening was chosen as the production task. For this purpose, several devices were designed and manufactured which utilise a variety of different sensors and a collaborative robot UR3. The production unit also incorporates a manufacturing execution system (MES) that students can develop and refine themselves. Thanks to a hands-on approach which combines both theoretical studies and practical experience, students are able to observe the effect of their decisions to a production process in a miniature yet realistic environment.