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Industry 4.0: Why it belongs on the CEO agenda     Industry 4.0, or the  fourth industrial revolution , is no longer a vision of some far-off future. It’s already happening – and will pick up pace tremendously over the next few years. The main drivers of this trend are changes in customer expectations as well as the broad implementation of new technologies, such as the  Internet of Things , sensors, connected devices, 3D printing, or cloud solutions. Value chains of industrial companies all over the globe are becoming increasingly digitized and connected, as are their products and services. At the same time,  digital business models  are challenging conventional approaches – often causing disruptive change. Digital business models: an example from the manufacturing industry In a traditional business model, the manufacturer’s machines are self-contained. Software is used to automate individual machines, but the machines themselves are not connected. In a digital business mod

Why You Need A Data Strategy To Succeed In Industry 4.0 Since the beginning of the industrial age, the manufacturing sector has experienced a number of dramatic turning points, where the introduction of a new invention has radically changed manufacturing processes and output.  Today,the manufacturing and high tech sector finds itself at one of these significant turning points - Industry 4.0 . And, if you’re wondering what went before - Industry 1.0 is associated with the beginning of manufacturing where mechanical production systems were powered by steam and water.  The next revolution in manufacturing came when the invention of electricity powered specialisation during the production process.  Then came the use of electronics and IT to drive new levels of automation in Industry 3.0. And that’s how we arrive at Industry 4.0, an era where sensor technology and the interconnectivity of machines - the  Internet of Things  – is driving the industry forward. This is an  evolut

Industry 4.0 could move mass customisation into the automotive mainstream When BMW developed the first edition of its modern Mini, which went on sale in 2000, it pioneered the notion of mass customisation in the automotive sector. With hundreds of options to choose from both inside and outside the car, the number of possible permutations was extensive. This notion was a hit with customers, who embraced the ability to specify a car to their individual tastes, and was also a boon for the company’s top line – buyers typically spent far more than average on optional extras. The snag was building the cars to order, in an industry accustomed to planning years in advance, building job lots and selling them in pre-determined trim levels. BMW made it work by positioning the Mini as an upmarket choice with premium pricing, covering the additional cost of the complex logistics required behind the scenes. BMW pioneered mass market automotive customisation with the new Mini Some other m

How can Industry 4.0 help the global steel industry achieve greater efficiencies? Taking place in Warsaw, Poland, the Future Steel Forum assembles speakers from academia and the steel industry to examine how technological innovations can revolutionize steel production. Matthew Moggridge, Editor of Steel Times International, talks about the themes and perspectives steelmakers must consider as they shift to a digital manufacturing platform. According to the 2016 Global Industry 4.0 Survey conducted by the consulting firm PwC, the buzz surrounding Industry 4.0 has moved on from what some had earlier considered as hype to actual investment and real results. This investment, in turn, is translating into increasingly advanced levels of digitization and integration. 67% of respondents from the metals sector, among them companies in the steel industry, say they expect to reach advanced levels of digitization in their vertical value chains by 2020. Matthew Moggridge , Editor of Steel Tim

Commentary on Industry 4.0 that only focuses on the Internet of Things (IoT) entirely misses the point. Armed with IoT devices, manufacturers could improve productivity and time-to-market. However, only large and resourceful manufacturers can take advantage of these devices in their existing state. Smaller scale manufacturers who badly need these gains presently do not have the resources or ability to do so. IoT and CNC machines If you don't know what the Internet of Things and Industry 4.0 are, here is an article to get you started:  "Industry 4.0 is the integration of the Internet of Things (IoT) and relevant physical technologies, including additive manufacturing, robotics, high-performance computing, artificial intelligence and cognitive technologies, advanced materials, and augmented reality, that complete the physical-to-digital-to-physical cycle." I recently spent the day with my co-founder at a major international exhibition of automated, Computer Numer