Industry Revolution 4.0

The purpose of this short blog/ write-up is to summarize the coverage of StackRoute webinar on Industry Revolution 4.0 and the highlight actions that can be initiated in enterprises.

We are all living in the experience age, leveraging digital technologies to transform the way we perform any task. Be it personal banking, insurance claim tracking, virtual learning, grocery delivery or cab hailing for local travel we are using mobile apps. We may wonder if our factories manufacturing goods, logistics operations for transporting goods, warehouse operations etc have adopted digital technologies? The answer is a clear YES and this is the topic of Industry 4.0 involving capturing if data using sensors, connectivity using 5G mobile networks, let machine learning algorithms make routine decisions and use robots for repeated jobs requiring mass production.

Industry 4.0 can be defined as combination of “New technologies that combine the physical, digital and biological worlds, impacting all disciplines, economies and industries. These technologies have great potential to continue to connect billions more people to the web and drastically improve the efficiency of business and organizations.” The outcome of industry transformation will result in Optimized processes, greater asset utilization, higher productivity, supply chain optimization as well as iimproved “After – Sales” services.

Industry 4.0 utilizes the synergy of nine different digital technologies viz, Cloud computing, Industrial Internet of Things (IIOT), Big Data analytics, cyber security to protect connected equipment, Augmented reality (AR), Robots, 3D Printing, 5G mobile connectivity and digital integration/interfaces for remote control of robots. One of the adoptions of IR 4.0 that was shared was about the mining industry using autonomous haulage systems for transporting ore, remote controlled inspection of mines,

3D mine walkthrough without risking any human life and so on. Even in medical field 3D printing has revolutionized manufacturing of prosthetics. Telemedicine, remote monitoring of patients is a reality with the technologies mentioned above.  Tracking of assets like large number of cars parked in the manufacturer’s yard can be easy with sensors, cloud, connectivity and analytics.

It is not hard to guess that such a digital transformation requires a systematic approach and the support of different business function, partners and even external consultants. It is important to evolve the technology architecture to adopt the Industry 4.0 technologies and this will not be sudden shift.  Every enterprise needs to understand the business benefits of specific areas of automation using IR 4.0 and evolve a transformation roadmap.  Some of the actions business enterprises may initiate includes:

1. Forming a dedicated team to understand inclusion of ‘Digital Solutions’ in your manufacturing activities.

2. Developing a Body of Knowledge (BoK) on IR 4.0 specific to your manufacturing type and execute some lighthouse projects.

3. Collaboratively discover end-to-end ‘Digitized Processes’ and study feasibility of specific initiatives.

4. Align talent to initiatives and develop in-house talent.

5. Develop deeper IR 4.0 adoption Roadmap and innovate.

In conclusion, we can say that IR 4.0 will bring manufacturers very close to their customers and satisfy personalized goods requirements of customers in cost effective manner.

About the Author:

R Nagendra Prasad

• Currently the Founder and Chief Practice Officer of Confluence Consulting Circle with over 35 years of IT industry experience n domains like curriculum design, faculty leadership development, Industry-Academia relationships, Business Intelligence & Analytics education & consulting, Product Management education & Consulting as well as Management and leadership roles in IT industry.