Giacomo Barbieri is an Assistant Professor in the Asset Management and Maintenance Engineering Chair at the University of Twente (Netherlands). He earned his bachelor's and master's degrees in Mechanical Engineering (2010 and 2012, respectively) and a Ph.D. in Industrial Innovation Engineering (2016) from the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia. From 2016 to 2023, he served at Universidad de los Andes (Bogotá, Colombia), initially as an Assistant Professor and later as an Associate Professor, before moving to the Netherlands in 2024. He is an active member of the technical committee of the International Federation of Automatic Control (IFAC), specifically in 'Manufacturing Plant Control' (TC 5.1).
Giacomo has a background in mechanical engineering and industrial automation, which has progressively shaped his research focus in Asset Management, Smart Maintenance, Co-Design, and Decision Making. He thrives in transdisciplinary environments, where he facilitates human-centric and value-based approaches to these technological fields.
Bas van Oudenhoven (Postdoc) - Predictive maintenance product catalogue and implementation canvas (PRIMAVERA project)
Ana Sanchez-Londoño (PostDoc) - Predictive maintenance product catalogue and implementation canvas (PRIMAVERA project)
Luis Alfredo Esteves (PhD) - Human-centric Smart Maintenance: a participatory approach applied to a hydroelectric plant (Celsia and Universidad de los Andes)
Cari Richards (PhD) - Sustainable Asset Management
Tim Douma (EngD) - Decision-making processes for Dynamic Thermal Rating (IDLEC project)
Promoted (Co-Promotor / Daily Supervisor)
Ana Sanchez-Londoño (PhD) - Value-based Smart Maintenance (Politecnico di Milano and Universidad de los Andes)
RESEARCH APPROACH
Facilitating cross-functional problem-solving by applying the Design Science Research Methodology alongside the three core activities of Design Thinking.
Inspiration
The BuCa Chefs (R2DATO WP32): An Analogy to reach Strategic Alignment in the Business Case for Autonomous Train Operations
Organizing Sinterklaas (World Class Maintenance): Human Factors in Maintenance and Asset Management
Educational Facility 5.0 (Clermont School): Defining the Vision for the AgroLab Clermont
Migrating Trains (R2DATO WP33): A Framework for Managing Technology Transitions in Railways
Ideation
Highlighting Contradictions (R2DATO WP32): Showcase Stakeholder Trade-Offs in the Business Case for Autonomous Train Operations
Digital twin and predictive maintenance (Lifelong Learning Course, Universidad Católica de Valparaiso)
SUPERVISED MSC STUDENTS
2024-2025 (University of Twente)
Cathy Ebbers (Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management)
Daan Wesselink (Liander): Asset Taxonomies to Enhance Strategic Thinking in Expanding Electrical Grid Capacity Using Existing Assets
2017-2023 (Universidad de los Andes)
21 students, primarily from the Mechanical Engineering Master's Program
SUPERVISED BACHELOR'S STUDENTS
2024-2025 (University of Twente)
Panashe Mangezi (UT, Mechanical Engineering): Exploring the Human Dimension in Asset Management and Maintenance through a Sinterklaas Workshop
Alexandra Mulder (UT, Mechanical Engineering): Human-Centric Maintenance & Asset Management: Insights from a Sinterklaas Workshop
Natalia Bueno (EEMCS, Creative Technology - Critical Observer): Education about risks for people in a hurry
Zalfa Imtinan (EEMCS, Creative Technology - Critical Observer): Serious Board Game For Predictive Maintenance
2016-2023 (Universidad de los Andes)
117 students, primarily from the Mechanical Engineering Bachelor's Program
CURRENT PROJECTS
R2DATO (Europe's Rail Joint Undertaking, ERJU): Identifying frameworks and guidelines for developing business cases (WP32) and deployment strategies (WP33) for digital technologies in the railway industry.
IDLEC (Liander): Strategic Decision-Making in the Dynamic Thermal Rating of Distribution Networks
PRIMAVERA (Dutch Research Council, NWO): Developing a product catalogue to guide decision-making in predictive maintenance solutions (WP5).
CDAG (Celsia): Human-centric Smart Maintenance: a participatory approach applied to a hydroelectric plant.
PAST PROJECTS
TURA (Worldwide Universities Network, WUN): Development of an Urban Agriculture Value Assessment Framework.