Industry 4.0

Industry 4.0 Leadership Attributes

Industry 4.0 Bioengineering Leader

With deep expertise in biological systems, I4 Bioengineering leaders embody ethical-technical leadership by advancing biomedical technologies and solutions (“HealthTech”) to improve medical outcomes and patients' quality of life. For example, their teams develop digitally-enabled prosthetics, hearing aids, implantable defibrillators, artificial heart valves, pacemakers, medical imaging, diagnostic devices, and other innovations that help people combat disease and disability. These I4 Leaders are trained to manage cutting-edge research and development projects as a technical project manager.

Industry 4.0 Chemical & Biomolecular Leader

Did you know Rice’s Chemical and Biomolecular engineers are experimenting with 2D perovskite “seeds” to enable high-efficiency solar panels that help scale clean energy? One can envision himself/herself as an I4 Chemical and Biomolecular leader who knows how to deploy electrochemical processes to promote positive environmental outcomes, as well as how to assess and communicate their economic viability.

Industry 4.0 Civil & Environmental Leader

Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE) professionals connect CleanTech to positive energy transition economic outcomes for society and the government. An I4 CEE leader would use graduate-level civil engineering knowledge to build high-powered teams of varying experience and skill levels to effectively design and deliver infrastructure improvement projects. These leaders focus on the ethical/sustainability side of built infrastructure improvements like clean/renewable energy sources (e.g., wind turbines), DAMs (water energy), roads and bridges.

Industry 4.0 Computational & Applied Math Engineering Leader

I4 Computational and Applied Math Engineering Leaders understand and can effectively inspire cross-functional teams to use data science, math models and machine learning across a range of engineering applications. For example, they might lead teams to better predict seismic events like earthquakes or volcanic eruptions or use mathematical optimizations to battle cancer by improving tumor treatment, radiation, and chemotherapy.

Industry 4.0 Software Engineering Leader

I4 Software Engineering leaders combine engineering management and leadership skills with graduate-level computer science knowledge to build high-powered, agile teams of varying experience and skill levels. These individuals bring a data-backed approach and Industry 4.0 vision to product management and are desired by employers across every industry. Software Engineering or computer science leaders might be called on to effectively communicate the economic opportunities of applications, such as computer vision systems, and to help their teams collaborate to test-and-evolve blockchain or machine-learning based algorithms.

Industry 4.0 Electrical & Computer Engineering Leader

From improving the U.S. power grid to evolving the microchips in our smartphones, Electrical and Computer Engineering leaders are at the core of the Industry 4.0 vision, specifically technologies such as IoT (the Internet of Things). These leaders can effectively manage complex, modern electrical projects like wearable device and implant production, while balancing the ethical-technical considerations like privacy and fast-evolving regulations.

Industry 4.0 Materials Science & NanoEngineering Leader

Did you know Rice engineers are pioneering the use of nanodiamonds to create faster, more efficient semiconductors for electronics, which helps reduce energy consumption? These I4 leaders combine nanoengineering ‘know-how’ with high-demand soft skills like team management, communication and ethics. They understand the potential of absorbent aerogels to absorb environmental pollutants and can convey aerogels’ economic opportunity to a company or governmental organization.

Industry 4.0 Mechanical Engineering Leader

Evolving past instinct and experience, I4 Mechanical Engineer leaders help their teams harness the power of IoT sensors and data science to analyze and troubleshoot everything from industrial machinery to smart home devices. They know this can lead to more effective decision-making and smarter investments, like determining the best equipment (e.g., drills, pumps) to extract oil from the ground, while using sensors and robotics to analyze geothermal energy drill failure.

Industry 4.0 Industrial Engineering Leader

I4 Industrial Engineering leaders help companies realize the potential of emerging tech like Robotics, balanced with the ethical-technical leadership required to manage diverse teams of human workers. Their teams can apply data science knowledge to diagnose and improve supply chain friction points, ensuring a smoother process for everyone. They improve financial outcomes by eliminating wastefulness and inefficiencies in production processes like supply chain or manufacturing.

Industry 4.0 AI and Machine Learning Engineering Leader

Industry 4.0 manufacturing applications are many, but some of the most promising relate to how AI and machine learning can improve safety, efficiency and precision at scale. Historically, the supply chain and manufacturing processes were prone to human errors and slow reactions, affecting the entire chain. In manufacturing 4.0, AI will predict and reduce machine failures in the smart factory before they happen and predict future shortages of materials to help make inventory planning easier. The Artificial Intelligence and ML Industry 4.0 leader must understand these opportunities and how the machine learning algorithms work to achieve organizational goals.