Engineering Course

Smart Manufacturing Systems

Analytics and AI-Enabled Productivity Improvement

Power your production line with AI and analytics-driven intelligence.
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Not Currently Scheduled
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Course Summary

Learning Objectives

Course Overview

Credentials

Instructional Team

Course Summary

Discounts

The following GoBlue pricing discounts are available and cannot be combined. Please contact us at [email protected] for a promotional code that will allow you to apply the eligible discount to your registration.

With 15 or more enrollments, you may want to consider a custom program for your organization. Please contact us to learn more about our partnership opportunities.

Once you have paid, a discount cannot be added retroactively.

THESE DISCOUNTS ARE NOT APPLICABLE FOR PARTNER PROGRAMS.

Name Details Level
Group Discount Level 1 Enroll 3-4 participants in one course offering. 5%
Group Discount Level 2 Enroll 5 or more participants in one course offering. 10%
U.S. Government Current employees with .gov email (not applicable to government contractors). 10%
U.S. Military Active duty personnel, reservists, retired or disabled veterans. 10%
Students Currently enrolled student from any university; please send photo of date-stamped student ID. 10%
Michigan Engineering Professional Education Alumni Past participants of any Michigan Engineering Professional Education certificate course. 10%
U-M Alumni U-M alumni from any school or department – please send uniqname to [email protected] for confirmation. 20%
U-M Students and Staff Current U-M students, faculty, and staff – please send uniqname to [email protected] for confirmation. 20%
Go Blue Discounts
Instruction Time Completion Time CEUs
Smart Manufacturing 3 days Canvas access ends after 30 days 2.75

Smart Manufacturing Systems (SMS) offer a revolutionary approach to managing production systems. With SMS, you can enable production systems to self-diagnose and autonomously design continuous improvement projects. These analytics-driven results can drive productivity improvement.

At the heart of SMS is the Programmable Manufacturing Advisor (PMA), an AI device that transforms production systems into intelligent, self-optimizing operations. PMA can make any manufacturing system smart. Developed by Smart Production Systems LLC and backed by over three decades of research at the University of Michigan, PMA empowers manufacturing systems to identify inefficiencies, recommend targeted improvement actions, and achieve substantial throughput increases. This unique, patented technology has been rigorously tested and proven effective by industry leaders.

By taking this course, you will gain the expertise to transform manufacturing systems into intelligent, adaptive operations capable of delivering consistent and predictable results.

Learning Objectives

  • Understand the core principles of SMS and their applications.
  • Learn the fundamentals of Production Systems Engineering (PSE), the scientific discipline that underpins SPS and, thus, SMS as well.
  • Design continuous improvement projects using PSE Toolbox, which automates the calculations developed in PSE.
  • Use AI methods (embedded in PMA) for automated continuous improvement design at large, mid-size, and small manufacturing organizations.
  • Gain experience with real-world manufacturing case studies.
  • Attain the skills to manage production systems in the SMS environment.

Course Overview

The course blends instructor-led sessions with interactive labs, software training, and demonstrations. Learners can attend either in person in Ann Arbor, Michigan or remotely via Zoom.

  • Define Smart Manufacturing and Smart Production Systems
  • Learn the principles of AI-enabled productivity improvement
  • Discuss the relationship between SMS and Industry 4.0
  • Explore the Programmable Manufacturing Advisor in action
  • Introduction to PSE Toolbox and its engineering foundations
  • Model production systems’ performance and identify inefficiencies
  • Diagnose bottlenecks, quality issues, and buffer imbalances with data-driven insights
  • Use PMA and PSE Toolbox to design, test, and communicate improvement scenarios
  • Apply structured workflows to real-world systems (machining lines, electronics assembly, etc.)
  • Practice justifying improvements with analytically predicted outcomes
  • Analyze production systems from the automotive, electronics, and other industrial sectors
  • Evaluate system health and propose AI-enabled solutions
  • Compare improvement strategies and discuss deployment challenges

Textbook & Prerequisites

  • The textbook for the course, titled “Smart Production Systems,” was written by the course instructors. Shortly after its publication in April 2025, it became Amazon’s #1 Bestseller in several categories, including Artificial Intelligence and Manufacturing Industry.
  • As part of the course, you will receive a free copy of this textbook. 
  • Also, to continue practicing with the course software described in the textbook, all enrolled learners will receive a month of free access to the full versions of the PMA and PSE Toolbox. 
  • As far as the prerequisites are concerned, no specific ones are required. All the necessary background material will be presented in the lectures and is covered in the textbook.

Who Should Attend

This course is ideal for manufacturing professionals ready to harness data and AI for operational success. It’s especially valuable for:

  • Manufacturing professionals: Managers and engineers looking to enhance productivity, reduce inefficiencies, and implement AI-enabled solutions
  • Technology Innovators: Software developers focused on creating smart manufacturing systems and AI-based tools for decision-making automation
  • Students: Graduate and undergraduate students in engineering, business, or related disciplines seeking a thorough understanding of modern manufacturing technologies

Certificate Requirements

Learners must complete all homework assignments and lab reports.

Credentials

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Digital Certificate

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Instructional Team

Semyon Meerkov, PhD

  • Professor Emeritus, University of Michigan
  • President, SPS LLC

Pooya Alavian, PhD

  • Senior Cloud Solution Architect, Microsoft
  • CEO, SPS LLC

Liang Zhang, PhD

  • Professor and Head, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering; also Director of the
  • Industrial Training and Assessment Center, University of Connecticut
  • CTO, SPS LLC

Get Started

For more information or answers to any questions please email [email protected] or fill out the form.

Main Office:
2401 Plymouth Road, Suite A/B
Ann Arbor, MI 48105
(734) 647-7200
[email protected]

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