There is some debate whether industry 4.0 is just a clever marketing term or an actual industrial revolution, but regardless, technology is advancing, and it is impacting industries like manufacturing now more than ever. However, when surveyed, only 48% of manufactures consider themselves ready for industry 4.0. Let’s go over the things you need to know so your business can keep up with the new tech and thrive.
What is Industry 4.0
Defining industry 4.0 can get a little tricky. Unlike the previous revolutions it cannot be categorized by one advancement like steam or electric. We understand Industry 4.0 to be the change in relationship between advanced technology, humans, machines and labor. It is creating a responsive technological ecosystem that is used to carry out tasks. With a focus on introducing automation and data exchange between machines.
Elements of Industry 4.0
- IoT
- 3D printing
- Advanced Robotics
- Digital Twin
- Cyber Security
- AI
- Augmented Reality
- Big Data
- Edge Computing
- Wearables
- Cloud Computing
- Blockchain
How does it affect Manufacturing?
When you look the manufacturing industry under the lens of industry 4.0 the main focus is the smart factory. The goal is to use these different technologies to create a process that is more efficient and productive while at the same time being less wasteful. The combination of big data and responsive technologies means that the machines themselves will be able to identify opportunities that can inform maintenance, performance, patterns and insights.
These will optimize logistics and supply chains by adjusting them automatically when new information is available. 3D printing can be used for actual production and not just prototyping. IoT and the Cloud connect all of these smart devices and allow smaller businesses to access technology that they wouldn’t be able to on their own. The possibilities for advancement and streamlining are endless. Most of these technologies are not new, however the way we implement and connect them allows us to create smarter, faster, more flexible, more efficient processes that produce higher quality items at a lower cost.
How Can Sierra Help
Our software development team will implement customized solutions for your automation tasks. We will make create a smart solution that allows your operation to run more efficiently. Give us a call at 412.722.0707 or send us an email at sales@sierr001-2.sierradevops.comto learn more.
