Attendance / Duration
1 Day (9:00am - 4:00pm)Overview
Start date: Friday 30 October 2026.
Explore how IoT can transform the dairy supply chain.
This new one-day course offers a practical introduction to the Internet of Things (IoT) and how connected devices, smart sensors and real-time data can be used across the dairy supply chain.
Developed as an initial pilot in partnership with the Digital Dairy Chain project, the course explores how IoT can support milk quality, traceability, efficiency and sustainability, while helping businesses identify opportunities to introduce connected technologies in a commercially viable way.
You’ll follow the journey of data from farm to consumer, gaining an understanding of how IoT technologies can support day-to-day operations and create new opportunities for businesses.
The course is particularly relevant to dairy farmers, dairy engineers and electrical service providers, as well as professionals working in milk collection, processing, transport, quality, maintenance, engineering and agri-food technology.
Cost
This course is fully funded for those working in dairy, or who can provide the expertise to the dairy supply chain. It will be of interest to farmers and those working on farms, engineers, and electricians alike.Enquiry
For further information or to be added to our waiting list for future course dates please email engage@ayrshire.ac.ukCourse Dates
- Friday, 30 October 2026 (09:00 - 16:00)
Why participate in this course?
Dairy production in South-West Scotland and Cumbria is a significant economic activity in the region with many small businesses making up the local supply chain. There is a significant opportunity for service providers, independent dairies and farmers to learn how new and pertinent information can be collected from existing systems. The information can be translated into important operational insights from making decisions about equipment health, time or money saves, or evidencing compliance. Digital enablement of legacy systems or day to day activities need not be expensive, but in dairy, how can you find out what’s possible and how do you source the expertise? If you are a farmer interested in collecting new data and how to do it, or a supplier interested in providing the expertise, this course is for you.
What's Involved?
IoT is the connection of physical devices to the internet so they can collect and exchange data to improve how things work.
This course provides a comprehensive introduction to the Internet of Things (IoT), exploring how connected devices, data, and digital systems are transforming industries and everyday life. Learners will gain a solid understanding of IoT fundamentals, including key concepts, architectures, communication protocols, and data flows that underpin modern connected ecosystems.
Through a combination of theory and practical work, the course examines how IoT solutions are designed, deployed, and scaled across sectors such as smart cities, healthcare, manufacturing, transportation, with specific examples from dairy. Participants will also explore critical considerations such as security, privacy, data management, and interoperability.
By the end of the course, learners will be equipped with the knowledge needed to evaluate and contribute to IoT initiatives, identify opportunities for innovation and commercial business, and understand the challenges and risks associated with connected technologies.
Course Content
- Introduction to IoT and its evolution
- IoT architecture and ecosystem components
- Connectivity and communication protocols
- Data management and analytics
- Security, privacy, and governance
- Industry applications and case studies
- Future trends and emerging innovations
By completing this course, participants will be able to:
- Explain core IoT concepts, components, and system architecture
- Describe how sensors, devices, networks, and platforms interact in an IoT ecosystem
- Identify common communication protocols and technologies used in IoT solutions
- Understand data collection, processing, and analytics within IoT environments
- Evaluate security and privacy risks and apply basic mitigation strategies
- Explore real-world IoT use cases and identify opportunities for application
- Contribute to the design or implementation of IoT solutions in a business or public sector context