It is widely agreed that we are in the midst of a transformation, regarding the way in which products are produced, due to the digitisation of the manufacturing. Defined most broadly, Industry 4.0 refers to the fourth industrial revolution in relation to industry.
Mechanisation through water and steam power provided us with the first industrial revolution, which then developed into the second with the introduction of mass production and assembly lines.
Industry 4.0 is therefore to represent the fourth industrial revolution, which will take what began in the third, through adopting automation and computer systems and enhancing them further. This enhancement has been made possible with smart technology and autonomous systems, which has been fueled by modern advancements in machine learning and data.
Some of the new and evolved processes which are said to be associated with this growing trend towards automation and data technology within the manufacturing industry include:
- Smart manufacture
- Smart factories
- Cloud computing
- Cognitive computing
- Artificial intelligence
- The internet of things (IoT)
- Cyber-physical systems (CPS)
Ultimately, Industry 4.0 is still evolving and we are unlikely to have a full idea of what this will look like until up to 30 years from now. However, there are a large proportion of company's within the industry that are already using technologies and processes that realise Industry 4.0's limitless potential.
Of course, with these new opportunities come challenges, as employers look for ways to evolve their own processes and upskill a current workfroce to take on new responsibilities. To find out an expert's perspective on Industry 4.0 and discover the answers to some of our members questions, find out how you can watch our Q&A panel discussion below.
Watch an Expert's Perspective: Industry 4.0 Q&A
In our latest Q&A panel discussion, Made in Group were joined by Brett Griffiths (Director of Lean Transition Solutions Limited) and John D'Angelillo (Managing Director of Bauromat UK Limited).Our panel of Industry 4.0 experts answered your questions on how to implement both automation and industry 4.0 practices into your workplace, how to avoid common mistakes as well as sharing their best practice tips for members.
It was great hearing from two members who have, between them, got experience from around the world. Members learned the best practices from Italy and Germany. A highlight was the talking about the barriers to entry for automation and industry 4.0.
Another popular topic was regarding the common weaknesses, vulnerabilities, or inefficiencies that they both frequently see in manufacturing when manufacturers don’t fully commit to an investment in automation or Industry 4.0, and how to alleviate these.
You will also learn some insight on how the UK compares to the EU and the rest of the world when it comes to Automation and Industry 4.0. Alongside this, the group discussed what are the strategies you should be implementing - in terms of sourcing and the procurement - to make sure that by 2030 companies have a competitive edge.
Ultimately, you will learn how companies complement industry 4.0 into their workplace, what it takes, the role of management in that decision, and much more.
To learn more about Industry 4.0, click the following link to access the Virtual Meetings section of your Made account and watch the Q&A session on demand: https://madeinthemidlands.com/profile/meetings