Purdue’s online smart manufacturing graduate certificate offers future of industry-focused, career-enhancing knowledge and opportunities

Purdue University’s online smart manufacturing graduate certificate is aimed at men and women working full time in manufacturing, supply chain and information technology industries and businesses.

Individuals in the program become aware of and learn to utilize cutting-edge technologies to improve processes, products, customer service and customization involving manufactured products, logistics and Artificial Intelligence (AI). 

A smart manufacturing certificate from Purdue also will strengthen critical problem-solving skills, boost leadership capabilities and increase career opportunities. Students tackle real-world problems using advanced tools for helping professionals in traditional manufacturing, supply chain, or IT companies improve efficiency, reduce costs and stay competitive in a rapidly evolving environment. Students also have the opportunity to apply data analytics, automation, AI and cybersecurity strategies to optimize operations. Earning Purdue’s certificate signals readiness for the launch of Industry 4.0 transformation and innovation leadership. 

“No other land grant or R1 institution in America currently offers a smart manufacturing graduate certificate,” said Duane Dunlap, professor and chair of Purdue’s School of Engineering Technology graduate programs. “We’re the first in the country.” 

Purdue also has the world’s largest smart manufacturing lab in higher education, a state-of-the-art facility on campus backed by companies like Caterpillar and Microsoft. Gifted faculty and staff lead Purdue’s efforts in the field. 

“When I look at the graduate faculty involved with this program, not only are they academically at the rank of a full professor at Purdue, or having decades of industry experience, they all are  passionate about teaching full-time working professionals in business, industry, or the public sector,” Dunlap said. “The graduate faculty have worked in manufacturing, industry, supply chain or cybersecurity. Our faculty can relate to adults working full time who want to improve their professional expertise.” 

The program’s curriculum provides a comprehensive understanding of sustainable manufacturing system design, the integration of advanced technologies in manufacturing and the critical importance of cybersecurity in an interconnected world. 

Purdue’s smart manufacturing graduate certificate prepares students to:  

• Design and apply sustainable manufacturing systems based on Industry 4.0 and 5.0 standards and future specifications.  
• Leverage smart manufacturing technologies to optimize production and supply chain processes.  
• Safeguard manufacturing operations against cybersecurity threats, ensuring the integrity of IoT systems. 

Data has a key and central role in all smart manufacturing applications. Individuals pursuing the graduate certificate not only manage people, processes and machines, they also manage data. Likewise, managers need to make optimal decisions based on accurate data. The program is planning to include a dose of analyzing data from Purdue’s smart manufacturing lab, just like they will in the real world. 

“It’s all about understanding the data set and using the data to make informed decisions,” Dunlap said. 

That’s also true of Purdue’s online Master of Science in engineering technology. The nine credits from the graduate certificate in smart manufacturing can be applied to the master’s for students who want to further advance their knowledge and skills and earn the full 30-credit degree. 

For more information about Purdue’s graduate certificate in smart manufacturing, visit the program website. For information about the Master of Science in engineering technology visit that program’s website. 

Writer: Greg Kline, gnkline@purdue.edu, 765-426-8545