Masterclass I4.0: shaping food factories of the future

Masterclass I4.0: shaping food factories of the future

March 27 & 28, 2025

going beyond incremental improvements with Industry 4.0

Many food companies face the challenges of increasing demand complexity, raw material variability, higher operating expenses and snowballing cost of goods.

They also need to craft strategies to cope with the talent shortage, minimize their environmental footprint, ensure food safety and improve operator wellbeing. Industry 4.0 can help food processing companies achieve significant improvements in operational excellence and tackle these issues effectively. However, we observe that many food processing companies only use innovative technologies for incremental enhancements based on their existing processes, often leading to disappointment. 


overcome the hurdles and initiate an Industry 4.0 transformation

Based on our research, we identified three main reasons why companies struggle with Industry 4.0 transformations: 

  • Lack of awareness: Companies do not grasp the full range of opportunities that Industry 4.0 technologies offer for more radical transformations. 

  • Absence of vision and roadmap: Companies lack a vision and roadmap for the implementation of Industry 4.0. 

  • Neglect of organizational dimensions: Companies do not sufficiently consider the organizational dimensions of an Industry 4.0 transformation. 

Following the success of our first masterclass, we’re organizing a second edition of our two-day masterclass to provide food companies with the insights needed to effectively initiate an Industry 4.0 transformation. By providing unique Industry 4.0 content tailored to the food processing industry, we help companies overcome the three hurdles mentioned above. 


By the end of this masterclass, you will have a structured overview of all Industry 4.0 opportunities and a first draft of your Industry 4.0 strategy, roadmap, and governance plan.


what to expect? 

  • Content based on academic research as well as real-life implementation experience, tailored to the challenges of the food industry.
  • Workshops and individual coaching to help you apply insights to your own professional context.
  • Access to learning materials, templates, frameworks and an Industry 4.0 maturity assessment.
  • Connect and exchange ideas and experiences with peers and experts on the spot or afterward through our Industry4Food community.



The masterclass offered us the tools we were looking for to establish a strategy and roadmap in shaping our factory of future 
Carmen Wallays (Agristo - Supply Chain Director)

for who? 

This masterclass aims at bringing senior operations and IT leadership together. Therefore, ideally, each company has at least two subscriptions: one senior operations profile (COO, CTO, operations/supply chain director/manager, plant manager) and one senior IT profile (CIO, IT director). Getting a common understanding of Industry 4.0 and collaborating in the workshops during the masterclass has proven to kickstart a company-wide transformation program.

 

This two-day masterclass is for companies looking for direction in the I4.0 transformation of their manufacturing processes. Whether you have already started or are still dreaming of it, this masterclass will ignite your inspiration and provide you with a solid foundation to shape your food factory of the future.   


This masterclass does not require any prior knowledge of the topic or technical skills. You can join if you are: 

  • An executive who needs inspiration and strategy (CEO, COO, CIO, CTO) 

  • A manager or director who wants to make I4.0 plans or decisions (Operations, Supply Chain, Plant, Production...) 

  • An applications manager or director who wants to connect business and IT 

We learned a lot from the meaningful interactions with other participants. We still stay in touch with this community to share experiences on the next steps of our journeys
Bart D'Haese (La Lorraine Bakery Group - Group IT Director)

Program

Each training day starts at 8:30 and ends at 17:00. 

Day 1: March 27, 2025

MODULE 1: Industry 4.0 strategy 

During the day, you will explore the following modules:

  • Demystifying Industry 4.0: Is the fourth (or fifth) industrial revolution here?  
  • Explore the disruptive impact of Industry 4.0 technologies (IoT, big data analytics, AI, AR and VR) on food supply chains and business models.
  • Give your I4.0 transformation strategic direction: discover various strategies to implement Industry 4.0 and find out which one fits your organization most. 
  • The paradigm shifts to consider in any Industry 4.0 transformation.  


OPTIONAL: A dinner is offered by delaware 

OPTIONAL: Overnight stay 

Day 2: March 28, 2025

MODULE 2: Organizing for Industry 4.0 

During the day, you will explore the following modules:

  • Explore the organizational dimensions of Industry 4.0: what does an Industry 4.0 change organization look like, what are the cultural requirements, and what is the impact on your leadership, processes, people, and ecosystem?  

MODULE 3: Industry 4.0 Roadmapping 

  • Introduction to the design principles for a future-proof Industry 4.0 architecture. 
  • Translate your strategy and architecture into a multi-horizon Industry 4.0 roadmap, measure ROI, and build, select, and prioritize your projects.
  • Pitch by Flanders’ FOOD on funding, research, knowledge sharing & innovation tracks 

MODULE 4: Industry 4.0 Governance 

  • Find out what governance is needed to implement your Industry 4.0 roadmap. 
  • What are common pitfalls and how to avoid them?  

Trainers

practical information & registration

Join us on March 27 & 28, 2025 between 08:30 and 17:00

The registration price is €2.750 excl. VAT

📢 For multiple subscriptions per company, a discount is granted. Contact us for more details.



Location 

delaware office Antwerp | Uitbreidingstraat 2/8, 2600 Antwerpen

There are plenty of accommodation options near the delaware office. 

what else can you expect at our master class?

  • Joining a masterclass together with other companies facing the same challenges has proven to create a valuable network.
  • The Industry 4.0 community established during this masterclass will meet every 6 months for dinner, or in one of the participating companies.  
  • Within the community, companies can exchange best practices and insights on their Industry 4.0 transformation journey 

    During the community gatherings, common themes are identified and jointly tackled. 

  • Industry 4.0 community members receive the latest reports, insights and tools from our research. 

Our collaborating partners

Flanders food


Universiteit Antwerpen


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