FET Alumni Inspires Future Engineers with Smart Factory Innovations at Multimedia University
The Faculty of Engineering and Technology (FET) Alumni Committee hosted an alumni sharing session featuring Viknesh Kumar, an alumnus with expertise in smart factory integration. The event, intended for undergraduate students in Robotics and Automation engineering, took place in April 2025 and attracted approximately 26 participants.
About Viknesh Kumar
Kumar, who graduated with a Bachelor of Electronics Engineering (Hons.) in Robotics and Automation in 2017, earned a Master’s degree in Engineering Science in 2021 and is currently pursuing a PhD at Multimedia University (MMU). He holds the position of senior software engineer and Factory Integration Capability Owner (Agile) at Infineon Technologies in Singapore.
Event Details
The session, titled “Factory Lights Out: Running a factory with robots and AI with minimal human intervention,” provided insights into the role of automation and artificial intelligence (AI) in modern manufacturing environments. Kumar’s presentation included a video demonstration of a fully automated plant operating in a “lights out” setting, illustrating the potential for contemporary factories to function with limited human oversight. He explained key principles of Industry 4.0 and the 4M framework—Man, Machine, Material, and Method—essential to smart factory development.
Academic Journey and Student Engagement
Kumar also shared elements of his academic journey, reflecting on his experiences as a student at FET and how involvement in various student projects inspired his interest in automation and robotics. He highlighted critical skills for engineering students, including strong programming capabilities, a project-based learning approach, and a commitment to iterative, practice-driven development.
Advice for Students
He also offered practical strategies for time management to assist students in effectively meeting project deadlines. The session provided attendees with valuable technical knowledge and motivation to advance in the field of robotics and automation.
Source: Multimedia University
