Key Industry 4.0 Technologies in Manufacturing - 2
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Course 3 of 4 Advances in Manufacturing Technology

Put the technologies of Industry 4.0 to work in your factory.

Learn how AI and big data, blockchain, VR/AR/MR, cloud computing and cyber security combine to build smart factories - through focused video lessons and real-world manufacturing case studies.

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≈ 19 hours 4 modules Intermediate level English · 3 languages available
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Atul Jha Atul JhaTransformation & strategy leader · your instructor
Introduction to the course · 2:41

Learn from real factories

17 graded assignments and real-world manufacturing case studies

Certificate included

Shareable on LinkedIn the day you finish

Industry-practitioner instructor

Taught by a transformation leader, not a voiceover

6 Lakh+learners on our Coursera courses
10+domains covered
270+courses
57+specializations
01 About the course

A practical tour of the technologies behind the smart factory.

Four modules, four technology families, and the case studies that show each one at work on the shop floor.

4
Modules
AI to cloud security
57
Video lessons
Short, focused lectures
17
Graded assignments
A quiz for every topic
19h
Total learning time
Self-paced, flexible deadlines

Key Industry 4.0 Technologies in Manufacturing - 2 is a comprehensive introduction to the technologies driving Industry 4.0 in manufacturing: artificial intelligence, machine learning, deep learning, big data analytics, blockchain, virtual, augmented and mixed reality, cloud computing and cyber security.

You learn how these technologies interact to create smart factories, improve production processes and drive innovation. 57 short video lessons explain each concept, 13 readings go deeper, and 17 graded assignments check your understanding - with real-world case studies in every module.

It's course 3 of Board Infinity's Advances in Manufacturing Technology specialization on Coursera, designed for manufacturing engineers, production managers and industrial engineers.

Inside the course
01Artificial intelligence & big data analytics≈ 4h 02Blockchain technology≈ 4h 03Virtual, augmented & mixed reality≈ 4h 04Cloud computing & cyber security≈ 6h
02 Who it's for

Built for the people modernising how things get made.

If you run, design or improve a production line, the course was written with you in mind.

Engineering

Manufacturing engineers

See where AI, blockchain, XR and the cloud fit into the processes you already own - and what it takes to implement them.

Production

Production managers

Improve production efficiency and keep a competitive edge by staying current on the latest manufacturing technology.

Industrial

Industrial engineers

Evaluate new technologies with real case studies before you redesign a process, a layout or a supply chain around them.

Curious minds

Industry 4.0 enthusiasts

Anyone who wants to understand and implement Industry 4.0 technologies - and speak about them with confidence.

03 What you'll build

Four technology toolkits. Real manufacturing use cases.

Each module closes with a graded assessment and the case studies that show the technology working in a real plant.

Module 1

An AI & big data playbook

Tell AI, machine learning, deep learning and big data analytics apart - and match each to the manufacturing problem it solves best.

Module 2

A blockchain traceability case

Use smart contracts, decentralization and consensus to see how blockchain secures records across a manufacturing supply chain.

Module 3

An XR adoption map

Place AR in operator training, VR in product design and prototyping, and mixed reality in remote assistance and maintenance.

Module 4

A secure cloud migration plan

Choose service and deployment models, plan a hybrid or multi-cloud move, and add the cyber security measures that protect it.

Atul Jha Teaches this course

Atul Jha

Strategic roles in large-scale transformation Technology, process, people & infrastructure Coach to thousands of students
Digital transformation Agile program management Analytics
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04 Industry expertise

Taught by real industry expertise, not theory.

Your instructor Atul Jha has spent several years in strategic roles, largely focused on large-scale transformation projects - helping multiple companies transform their businesses using technology, process, people and infrastructure as key enablers. Along the way he built deep competence in business process transformation, program management, digital transformation, agile project management and analytics.

Meet your instructor · 0:57
“I'll always try to simplify complex topics into simple terms to make sure that you understand the crux of the topics and its real world applications.”

- from his Meet your instructor video

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1:1 coaching · optional add-on

Build with 1:1 coaching from industry experts.

A dedicated coach from your target domain: someone who has done the job, hired for it, and knows exactly what it takes.

Book a demo session
  • A coach matched to your goal in 24 hours
  • A written roadmap you keep
  • Weekly sessions for as long as you want them

60-minute demo session · 100% refundable · no obligation to continue

Map your plant's gaps

Which Industry 4.0 technology pays off first in your operation.

Pressure-test a use case

Your AI, blockchain or XR idea reviewed against real constraints.

Plan cloud & security

Migration steps and the cyber security controls to match.

Aim it at a role

Which smart-factory roles this opens, and what to learn next.

2,000+Industry coaches
16Domains covered
4.8/5Average coach rating
48,000+Sessions delivered
05 Syllabus

Four modules, from AI to the secure cloud.

About 19 hours end to end, fully self-paced. Every module lists its learning objectives, its content, and what you'll walk out with.

57 videos 13 readings 17 assignments ≈ 19 hours Download full syllabus
Learning objectives - by the end of this module you can:
  • Explain AI fundamentals, its components and its applications in manufacturing
  • Differentiate AI, machine learning, deep learning and big data analytics
  • Evaluate real-world case studies of AI and big data analytics in manufacturing
  • Assess their impact on manufacturing processes and the opportunities ahead
What's inside
14 videos66 min
3 readings90 min
4 assignments + 1 plugin110 min
Topics covered
Introduction to artificial intelligence Components of AI AI in manufacturing AI vs ML vs DL vs big data Big data analytics Case studies Future trends
You'll leave with: a working understanding of how AI and big data analytics raise manufacturing efficiency and innovation, grounded in real case studies.
Learning objectives - by the end of this module you can:
  • Explain the basics of blockchain and the role of smart contracts
  • Describe decentralization, immutability and consensus mechanisms
  • Identify the security features of blockchain technology
  • Map real-world blockchain applications and future trends in manufacturing
What's inside
13 videos70 min
3 readings90 min
4 assignments105 min
Topics covered
Basics of blockchain Smart contracts Decentralization Immutability & consensus Security features Manufacturing 4.0 applications
You'll leave with: a clear view of how blockchain and smart contracts bring trust, traceability and security to manufacturing processes.
Learning objectives - by the end of this module you can:
  • Explain VR and AR and the key differences between them
  • Define extended reality (XR) and mixed reality (MR)
  • Assess the impact of XR and MR on the manufacturing industry
  • Apply AR to training, VR to product design and XR to remote maintenance
What's inside
12 videos66 min
3 readings90 min
4 assignments105 min
Topics covered
Virtual reality Augmented reality AR vs VR Extended & mixed reality AR in manufacturing training VR for design & prototyping Remote assistance & maintenance
You'll leave with: practical use cases for AR in training, VR in prototyping and XR for remote assistance - and where these technologies are heading.
Learning objectives - by the end of this module you can:
  • Explain cloud computing fundamentals, types and advantages
  • Compare cloud service models, deployment models and hybrid or multi-cloud setups
  • Plan cloud migration strategies for manufacturers
  • Identify Industry 4.0 cyber threats and the security measures that counter them
What's inside
18 videos103 min
4 readings120 min
5 assignments120 min
Topics covered
Cloud computing basics Cloud migration strategies Service & deployment models Hybrid & multi-cloud Information security Industry 4.0 cyber threats Cloud-based analytics
You'll leave with: the know-how to plan cloud-based manufacturing systems and the security measures that keep them safe, backed by real-world case studies.
06 Tools & skills

Master the stack that runs the smart factory.

The four technology families you study, and the skills you leave with.

Module 1

AI & big data

Machine learning, deep learning and analytics that turn plant data into decisions.

Module 2

Blockchain

Smart contracts and tamper-proof records that build trust across the supply chain.

Module 3

VR, AR & MR

Immersive tools for operator training, product prototyping and remote maintenance.

Module 4

Cloud & cyber security

The infrastructure your connected factory runs on, and the controls that keep it safe.

Skills you leave with

Twelve concrete capabilities, grouped the way the technology splits - the data, the trust and immersion layer, and the infrastructure.

Data & intelligence

Turning production data into better, faster decisions.

  • AI components & applications
  • Machine learning & deep learning
  • Big data analytics in manufacturing
  • Case-study impact analysis

Trust & extended reality

Secure records and immersive tools on the shop floor.

  • Blockchain & smart contracts
  • Consensus & immutability
  • AR for training, VR for prototyping
  • XR & MR for remote maintenance

Cloud & security

The infrastructure decisions behind a connected factory.

  • Cloud service & deployment models
  • Cloud migration strategies
  • Hybrid & multi-cloud environments
  • Cyber security for Industry 4.0
Certificate

Proof you can link to.

Finish the graded work and Board Infinity issues a certificate through Coursera - with a public verification link and a one-click path onto your LinkedIn profile.

Issued on completion of all 17 graded assignments. Counts toward the Advances in Manufacturing Technology specialization certificate as well.

On your profile in one click

Filed under Licenses & Certifications, where recruiters actually look.

Anyone can verify it

Its own verification link, so a hiring manager confirms it in seconds.

Earned, not attended

Awarded on 17 graded assignments - it certifies what you learned.

Two names on it

Board Infinity as the provider, Coursera as the platform.

07 Career impact

Every plant now has one question: who here understands Industry 4.0?

These are the roles where this technology knowledge is put to work.

Where these skills are in demand

Manufacturing Engineer

The role this course maps to most directly: bringing AI, XR and cloud tools into the processes you run.

Production Manager

Raising output and quality by knowing which technology fixes which bottleneck.

Industrial Engineer

Redesigning layouts, flows and supply chains around data, automation and traceability.

Smart Factory Specialist

Owning the Industry 4.0 roadmap: which technologies to pilot, scale and retire.

Manufacturing Data Analyst

Applying big data analytics and machine learning to sensor, quality and production data.

OT & Cloud Security Specialist

Protecting cloud-based manufacturing systems from Industry 4.0 cyber threats.

Digital Transformation Consultant

Guiding manufacturers through technology, process and people change.

Plant & Operations Manager

Making the investment case for AR training, blockchain traceability or a cloud move.

The honest comparison

What you're actually paying for

Every topic in this course exists free somewhere on the internet. Nobody is pretending otherwise. What a course adds is the order you learn it in, the practice that makes it stick, and something to show at the end.

What you get
This course
DIY with free content
A sequenced learning pathAI → blockchain → XR → cloud & security
4 modules that build on each other
Random videos, no sequence
Practice with feedbackLearning that sticks
17 graded assignments
Watch, forget, rewatch
Manufacturing case studiesTheory tied to the shop floor
Real-world cases in every module
Generic examples from other industries
Expert instructionSomeone who has led this change
A transformation practitioner
Comment-section guesswork
Proof for recruitersVerifiable, on LinkedIn
Certificate with verification link
Nothing to show
08 The bigger path

More from the Advances in Manufacturing Technology specialization.

This course stands on its own - but it's also step three of a four-course path. Enrolling automatically enrolls you in the specialization.

Course 1

Industry 4.0 and its impact on Manufacturing Sector

From Industry 1.0 to Manufacturing 5.0 - the revolutions, the trends and the careers they create.

≈ 13 hours
View course
Course 2

Key Industry 4.0 Technologies in Manufacturing - 1

The first half of the technology stack - the companion to this course.

≈ 20 hours
View course
You're here Course 3

Key Industry 4.0 Technologies in Manufacturing - 2

AI and big data, blockchain, VR/AR/MR, cloud computing and cyber security for manufacturing.

≈ 19 hours · 4 modules
Back to top
Course 4

Key Enablers and Challenges in Implementing Industry 4.0

Turn the technology into a rollout: enablers, adoption barriers, data security and change management.

≈ 17 hours
View course
Related courses from Board Infinity
Go deeper

Cloud FinOps

Take module 4 further: manage the cost, billing and governance of the cloud your factory runs on.

View specialization Go technical

Cybersecurity Fundamentals with Cisco Tools

The hands-on security layer: risk frameworks and the tools that defend connected systems.

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Foundations of Management Consulting

Frame, size and sell an Industry 4.0 initiative with consulting tools for operations and supply chain.

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Board Infinity runs 270+ courses and 57 specializations on Coursera - browse the full catalogue.

Know exactly what you're signing up for.

4 modules · 57 lessons · 17 graded assignments · free PDF

09 FAQ

Common questions

Everything learners ask before enrolling, answered plainly.

About the course

You'll learn how the key Industry 4.0 technologies work in manufacturing: artificial intelligence, machine learning, deep learning and big data analytics; blockchain and smart contracts; virtual, augmented and mixed reality; and cloud computing and cyber security. Each module pairs the fundamentals with real-world case studies, so you can evaluate the impact of each technology and the trends ahead.

Coursera lists the course at intermediate level. It is built from video lectures, readings, case studies and quizzes rather than programming exercises, so it suits manufacturing engineers, production managers and industrial engineers who know how a plant runs and want to understand the technology behind Industry 4.0.

Pricing and access options are shown on the Coursera course page and can vary by region. If you have a Coursera Plus subscription it's included at no extra cost, and Coursera's financial aid is available for eligible learners. Enrollment also includes the whole Advances in Manufacturing Technology specialization track.

About 19 hours of total learning across 4 modules, 57 video lessons, 13 readings and 17 graded assignments. At the recommended 10 hours a week that's roughly two weeks. It's fully self-paced - deadlines flex around your schedule, not the other way round.

Yes - this page is Board Infinity's own overview of our course. Enrollment, payment, video lessons, grading and the certificate all happen on Coursera, where the course is hosted. Think of this page as the detailed tour before you head there.

Career & certificate

Yes. Completing the graded assignments earns you a shareable certificate from Board Infinity, issued through Coursera with its own verification link. Coursera's one-click button adds it straight to the Licenses & Certifications section of your LinkedIn profile, and the same completed work counts toward the full specialization certificate.

Yes. Manufacturers are investing in AI, data platforms, extended reality and the cloud, and they need engineers and managers who can judge where each technology fits and how to secure it. Roles such as manufacturing engineer, smart factory specialist, manufacturing data analyst and digital transformation consultant increasingly ask for exactly this knowledge.

Two ways. The certificate goes in your LinkedIn Licenses & Certifications section via Coursera's one-click add. Then describe what you can now do: a line like “Evaluated AI, blockchain, AR/VR and cloud technologies for manufacturing using real-world case studies” gives interviewers something concrete to ask about.

The natural next step is course 4 of the specialization, Key Enablers and Challenges in Implementing Industry 4.0 (~17 hours), which turns technology knowledge into an implementation strategy. If you haven't taken them yet, Key Industry 4.0 Technologies in Manufacturing - 1 (course 2) covers the rest of the technology stack, and Industry 4.0 and its impact on Manufacturing Sector (course 1) sets the historical context.

Want someone guiding you through this?

Board Infinity 1:1 coaching pairs you with a practitioner while you take the course.

See 1:1 coaching

Your factory's next upgrade starts with knowing the technology.

Four modules. Nineteen hours. Four technology families you can explain, evaluate and apply - and a certificate to show for it.

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Key Industry 4.0 Technologies in Manufacturing - 2 · by Board Infinity · offered on Coursera

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