openZDM is empowering young Engineers through the Manufacturing Hackathon

Coordinated by the University of Porto, with support from the openZDM project, a manufacturing hackathon was organized specifically for University students. This dynamic event unfolded on April 16 in the vibrant city of Porto, Portugal.

Inspiration: openZDM project

The openZDM project is an initiative that will develop and demonstrate in five representative production lines an open platform designed to realize Zero Defect Manufacturing. This transformative initiative is a collaborative effort between industry leaders, researchers, and innovators from 18 institutions and has served as an inspiration for this year’s manufacturing hackathon by University of Porto.

The competition started with Pro-Dean for Internationalisation at Faculty of Engineering and Assistant Professor at University of Porto, Gil Gonçalves wishing a warm welcome to all students and explained the main challenge of the hackathon.

This year’s challenge was related to the one of openZDM’s pilots – Sonae Arauco, decorative surfaced panels manufacturing demonstrator.

Afterwards, hackathon organisers presented openZDM project. In this inspiring speech, students were offered with the opportunity to discover more about openZDM’s mission, objectives and 5 demonstrative pilots.

About the Hackathon

What sets manufacturing hackathons apart is the intense, time-bound nature of the challenge. Participants are tasked with conceptualising, prototyping, and presenting their solutions within a condensed timeframe. This environment not only ignites creativity but also cultivates resilience and adaptability.

The main goal of the hackathon was for students to learn to think critically, iterate rapidly, and work effectively under constraints – skills that are invaluable in the fast-paced world of manufacturing.

Empowering young Engineers

Beyond the tangible outcomes of the event, the manufacturing hackathon at the University of Porto served as a testament to the power of collaboration and collective action. With the support of initiatives like the openZDM project, it underscored the University’s commitment to nurturing the next generation of industry leaders and innovators, who will undoubtedly play a pivotal role in shaping the future of manufacturing.