How Industry 4.0 Is Affecting The Manufacturing Industry

HOW INDUSTRY 4.0 IS AFFECTING THE MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY

Industry 4.0 technologies were already changing the course of operations for manufacturers before the pandemic. Now there is two distinct division between those who survived the blow – the technology haves and have-nots.

RPA bots and automation, new methods of human-machine interaction, the deluge of data, and improved connectivity, Industry 4.0 is helping the manufacturing industry evolve and compete with the western industrial scenario. IoT in Industry 4.0 enables manufacturers to accumulate, analyse, and act on immense stockpiles of data followed by implementing those actions in motion with automated robotics. The result? Higher-quality of the end product at a lower operating expense.

“INDUSTRY 4.0 connects embedded system production technologies and smart production processes to pave the way to a new technological age which will radically transform industry and production value chains and business models.” —Germany Trade and Invest

Smart Manufacturing and Industry 4.0

Smart manufacturing—in the form of advanced materials, automated machines and other technologies has introduced us to the manufacturing industry revolution. At the same time, sophisticated data mining, increased connectivity, virtualization through artificial intelligence (AI) and advanced analytical capabilities enabled by the Internet of Things (IoT) have led to a change toward an information-based economy. With the IoT in industry 4.0, it is highly possible to build smarter manufacturing processes, supply chains and even end-to-end business ecosystems.

Industry 4.0 Technologies

Industry 4.0 is constantly evolving in itself. New technologies are developed every day, but the four primary technologies that makeup Industry 4.0 as we know it:

• Internet of Things: The Internet of Things (IoT) enables machines and devices to be linked over the internet in order to exchange data and work together in coordination with other processes and their human counterparts. This connectivity helps manufacturers save time, reduce waste by-products, and decrease overall operating expenses.

For example, sensors installed into tools and machinery can capture data related to speed, temperature, etc. As an effect, operators can shut down machines before they reach a critical stage.

• Big data: Smart machines are now able to collect and measure machine data in innovative ways. Manufacturers have access to more microdata than ever before. Data collection from smart devices and sensors allows for the generation of bulk data sets or ‘data lakes’ that can be utilised for developing insight and analysis and can help manufacturers optimize their business processes.

• Digital twins: Digital technologies generate virtual replicas of physical processes, warehouses, designs, and other applications, which can then be tested and refined quickly and cost-effectively. These analytical tools let businesses make data-driven decisions. Digital twin models have wide applications that range from predictive modelling to predicting when maintenance might be required in factories, to testing the ramifications of design or process choices before ever manufacturing physical components.

• Cloud computing: Cloud computing is the framework that makes Industry 4.0 possible. Cloud service providers trade software applications, platforms, or infrastructure, which allows companies to scale their operations as and when required.

Benefits of Industry 4.0 in Manufacturing

Industry 4.0 also empowers manufacturers to utilise all the benefits of automation in their manufacturing factories. Although new devices, tools, and techniques can initially seem like an investment, the cost of using older tools in a rapidly revolutionizing technological field can be a big liability.

The multi-faced benefits of industry 4.0 automation are:

• Optimized manufacturing process: Machine-to-machine connectivity, shared data and precise analytics, and improved integration within the entire supply chain are now possible. As a result, you may witness better optimization, increased efficiency, and innovation across the manufacturing industry in the long run.

• Increased productivity: Analytics, machine-learning algorithms, and overall automation of the system have minimized the laborious step-by-step work. This leads to faster, more efficient production with efficient human resources maintaining and monitoring the entire process.

• Seamless recordkeeping: Huge data bank and advanced data analysis signify better record archiving and search capabilities. The seamless recordkeeping has proved to speed traceability and limit liabilities, warranty costs, and recalls at the same time.

• Increased revenue and profitability: Industry 4.0 enables things like predictive and preventive maintenance and automated upgradation. It results in lesser downtime and lowers capital expenditure in the long run.

Conclusion

Smart technologies empowered by Industry 4.0 lead to increased productivity, improved product quality, reduced downtime, reduced costs, and improved resource utilization. Manufacturers, who want to stay ahead of their competitors and lead the future, should take full advantage of this trend and optimize their business processes. But only a reliable manufacturing partner can make this entire shift of modus operandi seem easy than it really is.