Case Study: McMaster University achieves Industry 4.0-ready workforce development with Visual Knowledge Share Ltd (VKS)

Workforce Development in the Learning Factory for McMaster University

McMaster University built a state-of-the-art Learning Factory to prepare students and industry trainees for Industry 4.0 — teaching IoT, OT, cyber‑physical systems, digital work instructions and modern manufacturing practices. To standardize training, speed onboarding, and keep equipment and students safe, McMaster partnered with Visual Knowledge Share Ltd and adopted its VKS web‑based digital manufacturing software and VKS guidebooks as the primary instructional tool.

Visual Knowledge Share Ltd’s VKS was integrated into classroom and lab workflows so students create and follow digital assembly instructions (including 3D printer procedures) and access safety‑critical guidebooks. The platform is now used across seven undergraduate and five graduate programs, has supported international projects and capstone collaborations, saves instructors and students valuable time, and will be expanded to cover all Learning Factory processes — including sensitive CubeSat assemblies.

McMaster University

Ishwar Singh

McMaster University