A guest lecture on the Evolution of World Class Manufacturing toward Industry 4.0 was organized on March 10, 2021 for students of Batch 2020- 22. Mr. A.K.Yokkhananth/Head-Quality & WCM, Shanthi Gears Limited, Coimbatore addressed the students.

He spoke on Industry 4.0, which offers a more comprehensive, interlinked, and holistic approach to manufacturing. It connects physical with digital, and allows for better collaboration and access across departments, partners, vendors, product, and people. Industry 4.0 is a term often used to refer to the developmental process in the management of manufacturing and chain production. The term also refers to the fourth industrial revolution. He described the growing trend towards automation and data exchange in technology and processes within the manufacturing industry, including: The internet of things (IoT),The industrial internet of things (IIoT),Cyber-physical systems (CPS),Smart manufacture, Smart factories, Cloud computing, Cognitive computing and Artificial intelligence 

He pointed out that automation creates a manufacturing system whereby machines in factories are augmented with wireless connectivity and sensors to monitor and visualise an entire production process and make autonomous decisions. Wireless connectivity and the augmentation of machines will provide faster response times, allowing for near real time communication between systems.  The program was organised by Dr.R.Vinayagasundaram, Associate Professor, KCTBS.