{"id":6919,"date":"2017-12-22T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2017-12-22T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/slcontrols.com\/industry-4-0-realistic-pathway-smart-factory\/"},"modified":"2022-08-17T15:49:42","modified_gmt":"2022-08-17T15:49:42","slug":"industry-4-0-realistic-pathway-smart-factory","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.slcontrols.k8s-stg1-global.sq1.io\/en\/industry-4-0-realistic-pathway-smart-factory\/","title":{"rendered":"Industry 4.0 \u2013 A Realistic Pathway to the Smart Factory"},"content":{"rendered":"

Industry 4.0 is the undeniable buzzword in manufacturing at the moment. After all, it is easy to understand the potential benefits and get excited by the prospect of the smart factory. Making your plant part of the fourth industrial revolution, however, is much easier said than done.<\/p>\n

It is such a massive topic, in fact, that it’s difficult to know where to start. The whole concept is both overwhelming and daunting.<\/p>\n

In addition, while the theory of Industry 4.0 is great, you’re not involved in theory. Instead, you’re in the real-world of maximising OEE<\/a>, tight manufacturing deadlines, increasingly high customer expectations, creating supply chain efficiencies, reducing costs, complying with regulations<\/a>… the list goes on.<\/p>\n

Where, then, do you start with Industry 4.0<\/a>?<\/p>\n

The Problem with the Smart Factory<\/h2>\n

Most articles about Industry 4.0 and the smart factory add a concise definition of what the author thinks it is. Here is the reality, though \u2013 nobody really knows what the smart factory looks like.<\/p>\n

Of course, there are technologies and concepts that are a part of Industry 4.0 that we can talk about. In brief, this includes connecting and integrating all aspects of the manufacturing process<\/a> including machines, IT, systems, platforms, human operators, business processes, the supply chain, and the wider enterprise.<\/p>\n

Crucially, it\u2019s not just about connecting these elements but also automating decision-making across the whole company and manufacturing process.<\/p>\n

So, the smart factory is more about becoming autonomous than it is about more traditional automation. It also involves technology that enables machines, systems, and processes to learn, change, and self-optimise.<\/p>\n

Back to the point above, though, i.e. nobody really knows what the smart factory looks like. This is because technology is advancing incredibly rapidly. In fact, in five or 10 years\u2019 time, there will be technology available to make your factory smarter that has not yet been conceived.<\/p>\n

In other words, the smart factory is not an end result. Instead, it’s an evolution with no conceivable end date.<\/p>\n

Also, there is no fixed Industry 4.0 pathway. The pathway is, instead, completely flexible and can \u2013 and should \u2013 be adapted to the needs of your business.<\/p>\n

The Realistic Industry 4.0 Pathway<\/h2>\n

Understanding there is no fixed pathway and that developing the smart factory is an ongoing evolutionary process actually makes starting the journey much easier. In fact, the answer is quite simple: you should have big goals for your plants, but you should start small.<\/p>\n

This could involve starting on a single production line, or even a single asset, and maximising its performance<\/a>. This could mean automating batch control<\/a>, for example, or improving the way you generate, collect, centrally store, present, analyse, and then use data to make real-world decisions<\/a>.<\/p>\n

By starting small like this, it\u2019s easy to manage, there are fewer risks, and it’s cost-effective while still letting you test and prove concepts. You\u2019ll also get to see how the benefits of Industry 4.0<\/a> will impact your operations and facilities, plus you\u2019ll get to see the challenges too. These include:<\/p>\n