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Latest Industry 4.0 Manufacturing Trends

Technology is rapidly evolving and integrating into modern business practicesThe combination of smart technology and automation is central to this integration, helping manufacturing organizations reach new levels of productivity through the Internet of Things (IoT),or, in the case of manufacturing, the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT). Smart machines,industrial IoT, and artificial intelligence arevital elements comprising Industry 4.0. 

Let's take a closer look at some of the facets of IIoT and Industry 4.0, and what they mean for the future of modern businesses.

What is Industrial IoT (IIoT)?

Industrial IoT refers to the integration of network communication and sensors in the manufacturing environment to enable AI, smart-machines, smart manufacturing, and advanced analytics to make the manufacturing process more efficient. By automating specific tasks and studying the flow of supply to the productindustrial IoT can support theanalysis of workflow data by identifying areas where production slows down. Smart technologies can also be applied to streamline fundamental activitiessuch as automatically reordering supplies for manufacturing. 

As technology and networks work together, the industrial internet of things creates new forms of communication between people and systems that involve all network-connected devices operating on behalf of a company. Though this mostly includes production and manufacturing, it also extends to other industries.

How Industry 4.0 Technologies are Transforming Manufacturing

As we enter the era of Industry 4.0, we see that the possible new uses for smart tech are limitlessThough we are still in the early stages, we can already see howartificial intelligence and automation are shaping production for years to come, andindustrial IoTalready has an essential impact on the enablement of Industry 4.0. 

There are already common examples of digital tech in the workplace, such as factory workers using wearables, which sync invaluable data, such as how long shipping takes, where slowdowns occur, and where production increases. As technologyevolvesmore industries are taking advantage of tech tools like these and applying them to their industry.

Industry 4.0 leverages data in many ways, such as data collection and interpretation, then acting on the resulting analytics. Such analytics help to improvelegacy infrastructure, identify production patterns, and create proactive methods to prevent potential slowdownsandfurther issues. By establishing key performance indicators, identifying clear metrics, and utilizing data to monitor the progress of those goals, manufacturers can gain more in-depth insight into where improvements need to be made within their production process. 

Artificial intelligence can learn and automatically apply solutions to problems that would typically require a humanto resolve, significantlyreducingtime spent on menial processes, freeing up staff to focus on specialized tasks.

Applications of transformative technologies for production lines allow manufacturers to be flexible to unforeseen changes and requirements. Adaptive machines, for instance, can be implemented on the assembly line to make changes in production based on an external command. Adding this upgrade to production lines can help manufacturers adapt to changes— whether small or significant— in stride

Understanding Hype from Reality and Why It's Important to Start Implementing

There are many reasons manufacturing companies must adopt Industry 4.0 technologies early.Businessesreap the benefits of new, powerful analytics, allowing them to automate redundant processes and shape their organization in ways that weren't possible before. Does this mean the industrial internet of things is the perfect solution to all production and manufacturing woes? Not quite. However, a smart factory has clear advantages over its traditional counterparts.

In addition to renovating legacy infrastructure, there are numerous other reasons to adopt Industry 4.0 mechanisms earlySmart technology creates improved production lines using available analytics, sensors, and communication while alsoenhancing products and services for customers.Through this process, products are developed faster and enhanced with the advanced data analytics offered through smart monitoring.

Communication is also greatly improved within a smart factory environment. By employing wearablesworkers can maintain updates on general workflow and flag problems in real-time,creating a faster response time to resolve issues.Smart factory integration also combines the digital and physical world within the product development process. Products are first developed as ideas, then transferred to the digital design face, and ultimately to production. With the addition of smart analytics, products and materials have improved quality checks and lifespans. These smart factory upgrades help to streamline production further while still maintaining quality.

Now, consider how reliant the modern world is on digital technology. Data and information are increasingly organic to devices, and to remain competitive, it's vital to adapt quickly. Factories increasingly rely on AI and smart processes to automate essential workloads, just as many people have come to rely on the internet and their smartphones.As those whocontinue to rely on legacy infrastructure quickly find themselves outpaced, Industry 4.0 integration is the prevailing competitive edge. 

Industry 4.0 vs.IIoT

Industry 4.0 applications benefit the manufacturing and business world, but they cannot function successfully without industrial IoT. The industrial internet of things enables most of the features of Industry 4.0 that decipher it from past industrial eras and promise to revolutionize the future.  

Industry 4.0 primarily describesthe next industrial revolution. Just like the previous industrial periods, Industry 4.0 is powered by great leaps in technology andsupported by the expansion ofinternet capabilities and connectivity. Industry 4.0 is a framework vision for how manufacturing and business evolve in tandem with the growth of interconnected technology. 

The industrial internet of things is the system that provides connectivity to make smart factories functional. Any physical device connected to a network comprisesthe industrial internet of thingsenabling digital twins, virtual reality, augmented reality, and more. The industrial internet of things also supports analytics, sensors,automation, and other trends, including cybersecurity and AI. The integration of industrial IoTreshapesall aspects of industrial functions, from product development to the point of sale to completion. Industry 4.0 is the immense growth and change of production, while industrial IoT is the system of connected devices and tools used within Industry 4.0.

What are some examples of industry 4.0 applications?

Industry 4.0 applications fit into many processes byutilizing smart technology as part ofthe service model. Notable examples of Industry 4.0 application integration include big data, virtual reality, automation, and artificial intelligence. 

Big data involves the deluge of information collected from various sources, including client demographics, product sales, shipping times, cybersecurity reports, and other key performance indicators.These massive data reports are interpreted into digestible, usable reports to improve an organization's efficiency further.

Leveraging big data allows new processes to emerge, including preparation for AI integration and automation upgrades.Big data plays an integral role in the new industrial revolution because of the insights it can bring to the functionality of the factory and the entire organization. Smart machines utilize information provided by big data to continue to improve and find new ways to optimize processes. Data is collected during production through communication between machines, analytics, sensors, and people.

Virtual reality also plays a role in the modern business environment. One application includes training personnel on sophisticated machinery and operations in a virtual environment enabling training to be completed in a remote, custom environment that's both safe and completely adjustable. Engineers can also utilize augmented reality in the product development processes, helping them to visualize changes to a product or part before they make themThe applications for AR and VR in the manufacturing industry are limitless.

What challenges are presented by Industry 4.0?

When first introduced, developing technologies always face various challenges and hurdles. Proper security is one of the most critical priorities for Industry 4.0, but it's also one of the biggest challenges. Applications and technology communicate with each other using network connections, but just like any home or mobile device connected to the internet, the networks need to be secure. With the addition of more smart machines and AI-based technology, adapters are facing unique challenges: keeping their systems secure every step of the way. Device saturation can cause monitoring and containing breaches for every piece of hardware on every network to be overwhelming. 

Organizing and managing data and analytics by creatingcredible reports is another challenge. The surplus of information can create a need for new processes or software integration, so companies can cut through the noise and see all necessary insights.

Conclusion

The implementation of industrial IoT is influencing the future of the manufacturing industry, along with other digital technologies withinthe developing Industry 4.0 era. With so many advancements in communication, AI, and smart tech, all organizations can accelerate their performance to new heights while taking advantage of invaluable analytics. 

A bold, exciting future for modern businesses awaits as we move further intoIndustry 4.0 and all the revolution it brings.Even though making changes can be complicated, transformative technologies can improve processes and create a better future for manufacturing for years to come.  If you'd like to learn more about how tooptimize your manufacturing processes withrevolutionary 3D scanning technologyyou can visit us at Capture3D.