USTP Villanueva EMT faculty complete FESTO MPS hands-on training to enhance industry 4.0 skills

The training covered four key stations of the Modular Production System:

𝗗𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗯𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻/𝗕𝗲𝗹𝘁 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 – Operating the conveyor system for material feeding and transfer, identifying and applying sensors for workpiece detection and positioning, and developing basic PLC programs for conveyor sequencing and control.
𝗠𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 – Measuring and classifying workpieces using appropriate sensing devices, implementing PLC logic for measurement-based decision-making, and evaluating the accuracy and consistency of automated inspection processes.
𝗣𝗶𝗰𝗸 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 – Operating pneumatic or robotic actuators for workpiece handling, integrating motion control with sensor feedback, and demonstrating automated transfer of materials between connected stations.
𝗦𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 – Programming a sorting mechanism to classify parts based on predefined parameters, applying sensors and actuators for automatic sorting, and assessing system performance in terms of speed, efficiency, and accuracy.

According to Engr. Jenalyn S. Ihong, EMT Program Head of USTP Villanueva, the training is a strategic step in preparing students for the demands of Industry 4.

“By equipping our faculty with hands-on experience on the FESTO Modular Production System, we ensure that our students are exposed to technologies comparable to those used in actual industrial production lines. This will significantly enrich our laboratory activities in Flexible Manufacturing Systems, Programming and Interfacing, Machine Vision, and Robotics,” Engr. Ihong said.