INDUSTRY 4.0
Welcome to a new ERA
INDUSTRY 4.0
Welcome to a new ERA
INDUSTRY 4.0
Welcome to a new ERA
The fourth industrial revolution is in progress and it begins a new era: Industry 4.0. This is also known as the industry of the future as it involves the emergence of innovative connected or robotized factories. These are characterized by intelligent automation of production systems and with new technology integrated in the company value chain.
Industry 4.0 means that contributors, production tools and products interact in the most efficient way possible. How? By putting “digital” at the centre of production. The two domains of the virtual and physical are no longer in opposition. The former serves the latter leading to a global high-performance ecosystem.
By 2020, companies in the industrial sector will invest more than 900 billion dollars in digitalization. which is an indispensable step towards industry 4.0. This is a vital challenge as this investment would enable an average increase in turnover of 2.9% and a reduction in costs of 3.6%.
(Source: PwC Global survey on industry 4.0)
Smart factory: a multitude of technological solutions
Numerous technologies are at the disposal of industrialists in order to enter the industry 4.0 era. At the moment, the most often used are: augmented reality (adds information in the field of vision), additive manufacturing (also called 3D manufacturing), digital model (producing a digital twin of the product thus enabling tests to be done before the first prototype is manufactured) and, obviously, artificial intelligence in order to efficiently exploit the Big Data. We can also cite cobots, which are robots working in collaboration with the operators, IoT (Internet of Things) and finally, machine learning.
The common point between all these technologies is the need to completely master their complexity. Following a study by IDG Connect – Siemens, 36% of companies recognize that lack of knowledge is one of the principal obstacles in implementing industry 4.0. In addition, 34% of medium-sized company directors find the approach complex, and 54% of companies wanting to move towards the industry of the future do not have a team devoted to this evolution.
Smart factory: a multitude of technological solutions
Numerous technologies are at the disposal of industrialists in order to enter the industry 4.0 era. At the moment, the most often used are: augmented reality (adds information in the field of vision), additive manufacturing (also called 3D manufacturing), digital model (producing a digital twin of the product thus enabling tests to be done before the first prototype is manufactured) and, obviously, artificial intelligence in order to efficiently exploit the Big Data. We can also cite cobots, which are robots working in collaboration with the operators, IoT (Internet of Things) and finally, machine learning.
The common point between all these technologies is the need to completely master their complexity. Following a study by IDG Connect – Siemens, 36% of companies recognize that lack of knowledge is one of the principal obstacles in implementing industry 4.0. In addition, 34% of medium-sized company directors find the approach complex, and 54% of companies wanting to move towards the industry of the future do not have a team devoted to this evolution.
Smart factory: a multitude of technological solutions
Numerous technologies are at the disposal of industrialists in order to enter the industry 4.0 era. At the moment, the most often used are: augmented reality (adds information in the field of vision), additive manufacturing (also called 3D manufacturing), digital model (producing a digital twin of the product thus enabling tests to be done before the first prototype is manufactured) and, obviously, artificial intelligence in order to efficiently exploit the Big Data. We can also cite cobots, which are robots working in collaboration with the operators, IoT (Internet of Things) and finally, machine learning.
The common point between all these technologies is the need to completely master their complexity. Following a study by IDG Connect – Siemens, 36% of companies recognize that lack of knowledge is one of the principal obstacles in implementing industry 4.0. In addition, 34% of medium-sized company directors find the approach complex, and 54% of companies wanting to move towards the industry of the future do not have a team devoted to this evolution.
Industry 4.0 delivering operational excellence
To boost advances in the industrial sector, digitalization of an industrial firm is founded on the goal of operational excellence. The arrival of new technologies enriches the industry 4.0 model to help reach this objective.
Intelligent materials and additive manufacturing can significantly modify the manufacturing process. Digital engineering and new modeling and simulation capacities will increase the efficiency of the development cycle and facilitate the relationship with manufacturing.
In the factory, the internet of things (IoT) and its industrial version (IIoT) make the interconnection of company applications easier by using sensors and equipment, machines and intelligent tools.
The progress realized in mobility and augmented reality bring increased efficiency to the workshop, where collaboration between human and machine makes sense.
From the world of internet, Big Data technology brings powerful tools to analyze the collected data throughout the production process.
Digital continuity also enables process data to be valorized and better controlled. It allows progress towards predictive control, and having top level performance when manufacturing more and more complex products with increasingly stricter quality requirements.
The factory of the future is connected, in a world where data are at the center of production.
In practice, industry 4.0 is also the efficacy of a development cycle interconnected with production and recognition of the « digital » part no longer as a tool, but as a major source of leverage in company performance.
Industry 4.0 delivering operational excellence
To boost advances in the industrial sector, digitalization of an industrial firm is founded on the goal of operational excellence. The arrival of new technologies enriches the industry 4.0 model to help reach this objective.
Intelligent materials and additive manufacturing can significantly modify the manufacturing process. Digital engineering and new modeling and simulation capacities will increase the efficiency of the development cycle and facilitate the relationship with manufacturing.
In the factory, the internet of things (IoT) and its industrial version (IIoT) make the interconnection of company applications easier by using sensors and equipment, machines and intelligent tools.
The progress realized in mobility and augmented reality bring increased efficiency to the workshop, where collaboration between human and machine makes sense.
From the world of internet, Big Data technology brings powerful tools to analyze the collected data throughout the production process.
Digital continuity also enables process data to be valorized and better controlled. It allows progress towards predictive control, and having top level performance when manufacturing more and more complex products with increasingly stricter quality requirements.
The factory of the future is connected, in a world where data are at the center of production.
In practice, industry 4.0 is also the efficacy of a development cycle interconnected with production and recognition of the « digital » part no longer as a tool, but as a major source of leverage in company performance.
Industry 4.0 delivering operational excellence
To boost advances in the industrial sector, digitalization of an industrial firm is founded on the goal of operational excellence. The arrival of new technologies enriches the industry 4.0 model to help reach this objective.
Intelligent materials and additive manufacturing can significantly modify the manufacturing process. Digital engineering and new modeling and simulation capacities will increase the efficiency of the development cycle and facilitate the relationship with manufacturing.
In the factory, the internet of things (IoT) and its industrial version (IIoT) make the interconnection of company applications easier by using sensors and equipment, machines and intelligent tools.
The progress realized in mobility and augmented reality bring increased efficiency to the workshop, where collaboration between human and machine makes sense.
From the world of internet, Big Data technology brings powerful tools to analyze the collected data throughout the production process.
Digital continuity also enables process data to be valorized and better controlled. It allows progress towards predictive control, and having top level performance when manufacturing more and more complex products with increasingly stricter quality requirements.
The factory of the future is connected, in a world where data are at the center of production.
In practice, industry 4.0 is also the efficacy of a development cycle interconnected with production and recognition of the « digital » part no longer as a tool, but as a major source of leverage in company performance.
A changing information system
Taking into account the challenges of industry 4.0 on the one hand and the advantages of technological advances on the other, naturally leads to significant changes in the Information System.
One of the principal evolutions is called « integration »; vertical and real-time integration from the sensors and machines in the factory to the ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning), and horizontal integration which daily links the product design, manufacture and distribution.
Vertical integration is not really a new concept (CIM – Computer Integrated Manufacturing began in the 80’s), but is popular today due to a huge leap forward in technology: connected objects, mobility, big data, the cloud, etc. and well-developed software package solutions.
On the other hand, horizontal integration testifies to the fact that there is rapid convergence of the following: R&D with Production, PLM (Product Lifecycle Management) with ERP, and MES (Manufacturing Execution System), LIMS (Laboratory Information Management System).
A changing information system
Taking into account the challenges of industry 4.0 on the one hand and the advantages of technological advances on the other, naturally leads to significant changes in the Information System.
One of the principal evolutions is called « integration »; vertical and real-time integration from the sensors and machines in the factory to the ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning), and horizontal integration which daily links the product design, manufacture and distribution.
Vertical integration is not really a new concept (CIM – Computer Integrated Manufacturing began in the 80’s), but is popular today due to a huge leap forward in technology: connected objects, mobility, big data, the cloud, etc. and well-developed software package solutions.
On the other hand, horizontal integration testifies to the fact that there is rapid convergence of the following: R&D with Production, PLM (Product Lifecycle Management) with ERP, and MES (Manufacturing Execution System), LIMS (Laboratory Information Management System).
A changing information system
Taking into account the challenges of industry 4.0 on the one hand and the advantages of technological advances on the other, naturally leads to significant changes in the Information System.
One of the principal evolutions is called « integration »; vertical and real-time integration from the sensors and machines in the factory to the ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning), and horizontal integration which daily links the product design, manufacture and distribution.
Vertical integration is not really a new concept (CIM – Computer Integrated Manufacturing began in the 80’s), but is popular today due to a huge leap forward in technology: connected objects, mobility, big data, the cloud, etc. and well-developed software package solutions.
On the other hand, horizontal integration testifies to the fact that there is rapid convergence of the following: R&D with Production, PLM (Product Lifecycle Management) with ERP, and MES (Manufacturing Execution System), LIMS (Laboratory Information Management System).
However, a word of warning, if technological progress provides possibilities which were previously unforeseeable, notably for reasons of cost, generalized interconnection is not as simple as it appears. Industrialists must therefore carefully consider the risks inherent in adapting their Information System. For example, in the case where the technical interconnections between R&D and Production no longer appear to present any major difficulties, dialogue between the two would still require a fundamental redesign of the business processes.
Industry 4.0 – a human and cultural challenge
There are major challenges facing industry due to a rapidly changing market, technological revolution, new partnership arrangements, increased flexibility and agility, etc., but the components are all there to work in a different way based on operational excellence.
Industry 4.0 has raised awareness and this is probably the greatest revolution as tools are nothing without human beings. People must be center stage in a company’s progress.
If we take into account the scale of the changes in progress, not only technological but also organizational, this progress will not be real without awareness, explanation, training and accompanying strategies.
How the changes are organized therefore has an exceptional strategic character in the push towards operational excellence. The increase in competence of the personnel, from the workshop through the middle management to top management, is a major and inescapable focus if the project is to be given any chance of merited success.
With their multidisciplinary skills, the SPC consultants can highlight how new technology and its applications can contribute to your company’s development in an industrial context.
SPC is well-known in R&D, Production, and Industrial Information Systems from the process and machines to ERP, via the unavoidable MES, and so has a privileged position in the industry 4.0 domain. We can help with the plans for your information system in order to respond appropriately to the major challenges your company faces.
SPC is also well-known for its training courses in the industrial sector, and SPC Formation has the indispensable teaching savoir-faire to bring your staff adapted support.
Industry 4.0 – a human and cultural challenge
There are major challenges facing industry due to a rapidly changing market, technological revolution, new partnership arrangements, increased flexibility and agility, etc., but the components are all there to work in a different way based on operational excellence.
Industry 4.0 has raised awareness and this is probably the greatest revolution as tools are nothing without human beings. People must be center stage in a company’s progress.
If we take into account the scale of the changes in progress, not only technological but also organizational, this progress will not be real without awareness, explanation, training and accompanying strategies.
How the changes are organized therefore has an exceptional strategic character in the push towards operational excellence. The increase in competence of the personnel, from the workshop through the middle management to top management, is a major and inescapable focus if the project is to be given any chance of merited success.
With their multidisciplinary skills, the SPC consultants can highlight how new technology and its applications can contribute to your company’s development in an industrial context.
SPC is well-known in R&D, Production, and Industrial Information Systems from the process and machines to ERP, via the unavoidable MES, and so has a privileged position in the industry 4.0 domain. We can help with the plans for your information system in order to respond appropriately to the major challenges your company faces.
SPC is also well-known for its training courses in the industrial sector, and SPC Formation has the indispensable teaching savoir-faire to bring your staff adapted support.
Industry 4.0 – a human and cultural challenge
There are major challenges facing industry due to a rapidly changing market, technological revolution, new partnership arrangements, increased flexibility and agility, etc., but the components are all there to work in a different way based on operational excellence.
Industry 4.0 has raised awareness and this is probably the greatest revolution as tools are nothing without human beings. People must be center stage in a company’s progress.
If we take into account the scale of the changes in progress, not only technological but also organizational, this progress will not be real without awareness, explanation, training and accompanying strategies.
How the changes are organized therefore has an exceptional strategic character in the push towards operational excellence. The increase in competence of the personnel, from the workshop through the middle management to top management, is a major and inescapable focus if the project is to be given any chance of merited success.
With their multidisciplinary skills, the SPC consultants can highlight how new technology and its applications can contribute to your company’s development in an industrial context.
SPC is well-known in R&D, Production, and Industrial Information Systems from the process and machines to ERP, via the unavoidable MES, and so has a privileged position in the industry 4.0 domain. We can help with the plans for your information system in order to respond appropriately to the major challenges your company faces.
SPC is also well-known for its training courses in the industrial sector, and SPC Formation has the indispensable teaching savoir-faire to bring your staff adapted support.
Our priority?
It is the success of your digitalization project, from the needs analysis to the definition of the project all the way to the implementation of solutions and their maintenance in operational condition.
Are you evaluating the performance of your industrial tools? Do you wish to launch a digitalization programme?
