Yash Chandrakant Pulse is a PhD candidate with the ARC Research Hub for Future Digital Manufacturing at Swinburne University of Technology. Working under the supervision of Associate Professor Abhik Banerjee, his research focuses on the application of digital twins, artificial intelligence and smart manufacturing technologies to improve industrial operations and decision-making in the food manufacturing industry.
Yash is passionate about translating emerging technologies into practical industry solutions and enjoys working at the intersection of manufacturing, data, and innovation.
What inspired you to pursue a PhD?
Yash was attracted to the opportunity to undertake industry-connected research that could create tangible outcomes for manufacturers. Reflecting on the start of his PhD journey, he said:
“I’m really excited to begin my PhD journey with the Hub, exploring how digital twin technology can transform the future of food manufacturing. It’s an amazing opportunity to blend innovation, data, and sustainability in a field that impacts everyone.”
What are you researching?
Yash’s research explores how digital twins, artificial intelligence, and advanced data-driven technologies can support smarter manufacturing systems.
His work includes the development of FactoryLLM: A Safe and Open-Source AI Playground for Evaluating LLMs in Smart Factories, which enables manufacturers to safely evaluate and compare Large Language Models while maintaining control of sensitive industrial data through local and open-source deployment options. The platform demonstrates how AI can support troubleshooting, maintenance, and decision-making across interconnected manufacturing systems, helping organisations unlock value from increasingly complex operational environments.
What has been a highlight of your research journey so far?
A recent highlight for Yash has been contributing to the publication of FactoryLLM alongside fellow researchers Yong-Bin Kang, Abhik Banerjee, Abdur Forkan and Prem Prakash Jayaraman. This is his first publication. The project demonstrates how AI can reason across documentation from multiple manufacturing systems to assist engineers with problem-solving and maintenance activities, creating new opportunities for practical AI adoption in industry.
How has the Hub Mentoring Program influenced your thinking?
Through the Hub Mentoring Program, Yash has had the opportunity to learn from experienced industry and research leaders. One mentoring discussion left a particularly strong impression.
“The doctor’s diagnosis analogy was particularly helpful. Taking the time to properly understand the root causes and ecosystem around a problem before jumping to solutions is something I’ll consciously try to apply in my research and industry work.”
Why is industry collaboration important to your research?
Working directly with industry partners Yash helps ensure research addresses genuine challenges and delivers outcomes that can be adopted in practice. His PhD project, undertaken in partnership with Ezy Chef Pty Ltd, provides an opportunity to apply advanced technologies in a real manufacturing environment while contributing to improvements in product consistency and manufacturing efficiency.
What advice would you give future PhD students?
Yash encourages students to remain curious, seek opportunities to collaborate, and take the time to understand problems deeply before searching for solutions. His experiences have reinforced the importance of systems thinking, understanding context, and recognising that impactful research often begins with asking the right questions.
