Industry 4.0

INDUSTRY 4.0 TECHNOLOGY AS A DRIVER OF CHANGE

Industry 4.0 or the Fourth Industrial Revolution focuses on improving the end to end digitization of product development, process improvement, and delivery. Using cutting-edge technologies such as digital manufacturing, additive manufacturing, automation and robotics, AI, Internet of Things (IoT), and cybersecurity, manufacturers can create new opportunities to fulfill customized consumer requests.

We can help you understand how to ensure your supply chain is digital-ready, if you're getting the most out of your data analytics, and how to manage your supply chain better. We can also provide consulting to ensure your leadership and culture is ready for the transformation.

DIGITAL SUPPLY CHAIN

For many manufacturers, participation in the digital supply chain may be critical to your business's future. From technology and business practices to a company's leadership and culture, it is essential to understand how your business is prepared for the modern manufacturing environment.

First, it is necessary to examine and benchmark key business areas such as cybersecurity, data analytics, supply chain management, and finance/operations.

ADVANCED AUTOMATION AND DATA ANALYTICS 

Industry 4.0 continues to erupt throughout the digital supply chain. Much manufacturing and industrial data continue to be stored in data warehouses, only to be accessed for routine inspection and control. Data is one of the manufacturer's best tools in gaining a competitive advantage.

Additionally, these advanced digital technologies bring production closer to your customer base.  Core 4.0 Technologies include:

 

Use Case

Impact

IoT
  • In-line quality assurance
  • Poka Yoka
  • Machine monitoring

The continuous stream of real-time data generated by IoT enabled devices makes asset tracking, continuous improvement, process and behavior minoring, and JiT manufacturing efforts more effective.

AI
  • Predictive Maintenance
  • Process Optimization
  • Inventory Planning

Artificial intelligence algorithms train on a factory's data, growing more powerful and accurate over time. They can predict quality changes before they can happen, keep supply chains flexible, and speed NPI cycles.

Big Data
  • Root cause analysis
  • Predictive maintenance
  • Improve process efficiency

Connected devices generate data on a previously unimaginable scale.  Big data analytics driven by advances in machine learning use the data to accurately and effectively inform lean initiatives

Cloud Computing
  • Elimination of data siloes
  • Better data accessibility
  • Integration with Big Data/AI

Cloud computing provides storage and computing power to manufacturing companies at scale.  The cloud provides an infrastructure for other technologies, and its centralization of data improves data accessibility and integrity

Augmented Reality
  • Employee training
  • Digital work instructions
  • Rapid prototyping

AR devices can improve the quality, safety, and speed of production by feeding workers dynamic information as they work in development contexts. AR can help prototyping and design teams iterate products without implementing in the real world

Wearables
  • Error-proofing
  • Step-time optimization
  • Employee health assurance

Wearable devices track employees' movements and bioinformatics as they work.  They give engineers real-time granular data on operator performance. They can identify health hazards to workers before they become an issue

Advanced Robotics
  • Complete assemblies
  • In-line quality assurance
  • Collaboration with operators

Advanced robotics are increasingly capable of complex, highly sensitive assemblies.  They generate data on their production that AI algorithms can analyze. And they are increasingly capable of working intelligently alongside human operators.

Let us help you integrate automation and get the necessary data analysis knowledge to identify opportunities for improving your business agility.

LEADERSHIP AND CULTURE 

While the roots of Industry 4.0 are grounded in manufacturing, the transformation underway results in more than merely production changes and enhancements. With smart, connected technologies that serve a role in transforming how parts and products are designed, made, used, and maintained, companies have to shift how they think and operate. They need to make sense of information and act upon it to achieve operational excellence and continually improve the consumer/partner experience.

Before initiating Industry 4.0 transformations, it is essential to adopt effective change management and leadership development practices necessary to transform the culture. Leaders are learning their organization is mostly still finding a path that balances improving operations with the opportunities afforded by Industry 4.0 technologies for a successful business transformation. Let us show you how.

CYBERSECURITY

As Industry 4.0 technologies are adopted to make manufacturing processes more straightforward, and businesses run smoother, more vulnerabilities appear around the assets manufacturers need to protect.

To minimize cybersecurity risk, you must know your assets, identify vulnerabilities, and recognize potential threats. Cybersecurity frameworks and standards, including the NIST 800-171 standard, can help you address cybersecurity risks. Let us show you how.