Partner Article

Industry 4.0 - How should manufacturers adapt?

A lot has been written about the potential of the Internet of Things (IoT) in everyday life. With more and more household objects connecting to the internet the natural question to ask is what will the impact be on industry?

A fridge being able to detect you are low on eggs and automatically ordering some more may not be revolutionary but the impact of the fourth industrial revolution, or Industry 4.0, looks set to have a real impact on the industrial world. The internet is perhaps the most transformative and universal driver of change and development in history and its integration with industrial equipment is certain to open a number of opportunities. We at Fascia Graphics are always keen to embrace new technology and we are definitely excited by the potential of Industry 4.0.

The example of a smart fridge is easy to transfer into industry, for example restaurants will be able to monitor how much food they have, what they are short of and make adjustments accordingly, saving them money by reducing waste. The same principles can be transferred to many different applications. As an example, for the medical supplies industry this new technology will allow monitoring of temperatures remotely to ensure heat sensitive products are safely stored.

Despite the technology to combine operational technology (OT) and information technology (IT) being readily available, there has been a surprising lack of crossover at industrial level. This collaboration of OT and IT is the key to Industry 4.0. A recent study of manufacturers found that only 14 per cent of executives indicated that all plant floor data is integrated with enterprise systems. Also about a quarter of executives indicated that little more than half of their plant floor machinery (not including computers) is internet enabled and 30 per cent reported that none of their equipment is internet enabled.

Although seemingly a fantastic opportunity to streamline processes and improve efficiency, Industry 4.0 does have risks. For example while there is little risk when connecting a fridge to the internet, issues can arise when more and more of the production line becomes internet enabled. For example, hooking your production line up to the internet may allow you to control the manufacturing process remotely, but it may also open your business up to unwanted eyes. The security of connected devices must be prioritised to prevent crucial information being potentially stolen by competitors.

With the correct security measurements in place however, IoT technology can provide valuable benefits to the manufacturing process, creating an efficient leaner manufacturing process that can save you (and your customers) money in the future. In our 20 years’ of manufacturing graphic overlays and membrane keypads, we have transformed into a much larger and leaner operation because of large scale investment year on year. Utilising the IoT should be viewed as a tactical investment that will lead to slicker operational management. Something that will also help achieve our goal of delivering bespoke products in the fastest time through an efficient design and printing process.

Manufacturers already utilising IoT say they are reaping benefits from opening up information channels between plant systems and business applications. As these information silos are connected, the manufacturing and business departments become more effective and efficient. For example, research and development departments are now working in tandem with manufacturing planners, streamlining the introduction of new products. Using mobile devices, managers and engineers react immediately to shifting production needs, operational issues and market scenarios. The result is like having an enterprise-wide decision engine that enables new products to get to market faster than ever before.

Individualisation is also playing a key part in Industry 4.0. Individualisation of products is already an everyday reality, with customisable photo albums, t-shirts and calendars all readily available in a matter of days with any pictures you desire and in just a few clicks. This level of individualisation is something that has great potential.

How could Industry 4.0 impact Fascia…

To illustrate other ways in which we could see Industry 4.0 impacting our business, there are three key areas of our business where it will have a significant impact. These are:

• Customer Delivery Schedules
• Online Ordering
• Stock Patterns via links to internal systems

Industry 4.0 is really about manufacturers continuing what they have been doing for years – striving for leaner operations that deliver products that are admired across industry. The key is making that tactical investment that makes the difference, and keeps you as the market leader.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Paul Bennett .