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Upfront
The Four Industrial Revolutions
The First Industrial Revolution (Industry 1.0) was based on machine work and the development of steam power in 1784.
The Second Industrial Revolution (Industry 2.0) began in 1870 with assembly line production and the use of electricity. Mass production started.
The Third Industrial Revolution (Industry 3.0) uses electronics, IT, computers, and robots to achieve further automation of manufacturing.
Finally, in the year 2013, we experienced the Fourth Industrial Revolution (Industry 4.0) which is based on technological advancements.
Industry 4.0 is the newly developed concept in which all manufacturing processes are changed from traditional methods to advance technological-based manufacturing processes. The root of the Industry 4.0 concept is in Germany in 2011. The concept is based on various technologies and advancements such as the internet of things, smart factory, big data, and cyber-physical system. Industry 4.0 is focusing on the internet which is the most important factor in our day-to-day life. This concept develops virtual reality which is important in the view of the current pandemic situation.
This Industry 4.0 concept is impacting every area of management including supply chain management (SCM). The concept of supply chain originated in German literature, where it is referred to as delivery chain, logistics chain, supplying chain, or value chain. The supply chain is working on seven principles of management. A supply chain consists of procurement, manufacturing, warehouse, logistics, and fulfillment. Industry 4.0 is also making a huge impact on all levels of the supply chain.
The Fourth Industrial Revolution came up with automation, robotics, the Internet of Things (IoT), big data, machine learning, artificial intelligence, as well as for analytics, and the cloud computing system which changed management and the way of doing business. There is also an impact on the supply chain industry, which is transforming by adopting digitization, automation, and centralized business intelligence systems.
Key Technologies in Industry 4.0
1. Internet of Things (IoT)The Internet of Things (IoT) refers to a system of interrelated, internet-connected objects that can collect and transfer data over a wireless network without human interaction. A ‘thing’ can be referred to as a connected device outfitted with sensors, that can gather things and transfer data over a network. IoT is an innovative approach to merging the data obtained from different kinds of things to any virtual platform on existing internet infrastructure.
2. Big dataBig data is a term that describes the large volume of high velocity, complex and variable data that require advanced techniques and technologies to enable the capture, storage, distribution, management, and analysis of the information.
3. Smart factoryA smart factory is simply a manufacturing solution that provides such a flexible and adaptive production process that will solve various problems that arise on a production facility with dynamic and rapidly changing boundary conditions in the world of increasing competition. The technical foundation on which the smart factory or intelligent factory is based on cyber-physical systems that communicate with each other using the internet of things and services. The smart factory gives a special solution in automation, a combination of various software, hardware, and machines. In the other aspects, it could be seen in a perspective of collaboration between different industrial and non-industrial partners where the smartness comes from forming a dynamic organization. Smart factories mainly consist of three things: interconnection, collaboration, and execution.
4. Cyber-Physical SystemCyber-Physical Systems (CPS) are considered as integrations of computation, networking, and physical processes. In this system, embedded computers and networks monitor and control the physical processes, with feedback loops where physical processes affect computations and vice versa.
5. 3D PrintingIt has been seen that the Fourth Industrial Revolution is said to have an extensive dependency on 3D printing technology. Some advantages of 3D printing for the industry are that 3D printing can print many geometric structures, as well as simplify and modify the product design process and it is relatively environmentally friendly. In the case of low-volume production, it can also decrease lead times and total production costs. Overall, it can increase flexibility, reduce warehousing costs, and help the company towards the implementation of a mass customization business strategy. In addition, 3D printing can also be very useful for printing spare parts and installing it locally, therefore it reduces supplier dependence and reducing the supply lead time.
6. Smart sensorsIt is proved that the sensors and instrumentation drive the central forces of innovation, not only for Industry 4.0 but also for other “smart” megatrends, such as smart production, smart mobility, smart homes, smart cities, and smart factories. Smart sensors are the devices, which generate the data and which allow further functionality from self-monitoring and self-configuration to condition monitoring of complex processes. With this capability of wireless communication, they reduce installation effort to a great extent and help to realize a dense array of sensors. The important aspects of sensors, measurement science, and smart evaluation for Industry 4.0 have been recognized and acknowledged by various experts all over the world and have already led to the statement “Industry 4.0: nothing goes without sensor systems.” –NE–
