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 Industry 4.0 set to change the face of automation

 

In discussions of what direction technology is moving in as it concerns businesses and production of goods, one phrase is inescapable: Industry 4.0.

The topic has been ubiquitous in German trade fairs over the last year -- it was a prominent theme at CeBIT in March and will be a central topic at the Hannover Messe in April. Moreover, BITKOM named Industry 4.0 one of the most important market trends of 2014.

Industry 4.0 is named as such because it is viewed to be the fourth industrial revolution. The first was the Industrial Revolution of the 19th century, which saw the mass mechanization of industries through steam and water power. The second movement was the introduction of electric power as well as mass production of goods. The third was the more recent Digital Revolution, marked by computers and IT being brought into the production process.

Germany's numerous technology-oriented fairs have given industry representatives chances to experience first-hand what Industry 4.0 will actually look like. One of the most recent incarnations of this will be seen at April's Hannover Messe, where a "SmartFactoryKL" will be debuted. The factory, a collaborative effort from 9 different companies, will demonstrate a model Industry 4.0 production line, featuring a synthesis of the mechanical, electrical, and communications systems into one overall concept.

In March, CeBIT also gave people a glimpse at the future of automation through an interactive demonstration of vertical integration of production processes. Visitors were able to make their own configuration of a mobile operating unit and then see how the information was transferred along the production process to different components. They were also able to see how data from the actual process was collected and aggregated for later reference.

In January of this year, the German agency DKE released its "Standards Roadmap Industry 4.0", one of the first such documents in Germany. DKE is responsible for creating and maintaining standards for electrical engineering, electronics and information technology within Germany. The roadmap offers suggestions for how to pursue this goal and which factors ought to be kept in mind. One over-arching theme within the document is the emphasis on creating standards on an international level rather than just a national level. This is especially critical since the very essence of Industry 4.0 is interoperability -- thus, systems from all over the world need to be able to communicate with one another for Industry 4.0 to be genuinely successful.

In addition to the need for standardization, Plattform Industrie 4.0 has identified several other areas in which key work needs to be completed to prepare for Industry 4.0, including: comprehensive broadband infrastructure for industry, safety and security, training and professional development and regulatory framework. These areas (and others identified by the group) will be essential for ensuring a successful implementation of Industry 4.0 in the near future, and will require many different groups (including businesses, organizations and government agencies) to work together toward common goals.

 

» Plattform Indsutrie 4.0: Survey on Current Trends Related to Industry 4.0 (in German only)

» DKE: Standards Roadmap Industry 4.0 (in German only)

» Plattform Industrie 4.0 (Website) (in German only)

» Industry 4.0 Implementation Recommendations (English)

» SmartFactoryKL (as seen at the Hannover Messe)