Definition
Industrial tourism, also known as industrial heritage tourism, is a form of cultural tourism focused on visiting and learning about sites connected with industrial and technological heritage. It includes historical places that have ended production as well as operating facilities. The goal is to understand production processes, the history of technology and the influence of industry on society and the landscape.
My goal
My goal in travelling this way is to gain authentic, practical experience and learn directly about the problems and challenges faced by manufacturing companies. Through contact with technological processes, infrastructure and employees, I want to understand how different industrial facilities operate.
Each visit will be the basis for creating a detailed model of the facility. I plan to use SysML, which allows complex systems to be described precisely and from multiple perspectives. Depending on the site, I will also use other notations.
I also want to record the systems and management techniques in use. As a result, I will be able to offer clients more accurate advisory work grounded in real examples and deep understanding.
Prefabricated construction
Several years ago I worked as CIO at Aristo Eco Home, a company specialising in modern prefabricated timber construction. It was my first direct encounter with industry.
The 3,000 m² factory was very modern and had a complete machine park.
Figure 1. Production hall. Source: Production hall, accessed 7 December 2024.
Those experiences led to my engineering thesis, “System, business analysis and concept for building an integrated enterprise management system for a manufacturing plant in the construction industry”. It is a good example for starting this series. I encourage you to read the full thesis, but here I will present the key aspects of showing the complexity of a factory in an accessible way.
Manufacturing plant model
First, we need to define what we are dealing with: which system it is and what elements it consists of.
Figure 2. Construction as a system. Source: own work based on Żeliński, Jarosław, Production Modelling, accessed 9 December 2024.
Next, we can move on to modelling the production itself.
Figure 3. Production hall model in SysML notation. Source: own work based on Production hall, accessed 7 December 2024.
The level of detail can, and often should, be greater: business processes, routings, work instructions, related systems and so on.
Systems and technologies in use
CNC
Numerically controlled machining centres, including carpentry centres and assembly bridges, provide high accuracy, efficiency and repeatability.
Management methods in use
Lean Management
This concept focuses on optimising processes by identifying and removing activities that do not add value from the customer’s perspective. Its key principles include:
- defining value from the customer’s perspective
- pursuing continuous improvement (Kaizen)
- ensuring a smooth flow of information and materials
- reducing excess inventory and avoiding overproduction
Lean Construction
This is an adaptation of Lean philosophy to the unique and often chaotic conditions of construction. Its main tool is the Last Planner System (LPS), which uses methods such as daily meetings and collaborative planning to improve communication, predictability and efficiency on the construction site.