If you are involved in one way or another in the management of an industrial site (management, maintenance, finance, etc.), it is very likely that you have already asked yourself questions about the future of industry and the transition to Industry 4.0.
This article discusses the digital transition that is taking place in the industrial sector and questions the obligation and interest, as a company today, of this transition towards a connected industry.
What is Industry 4.0?
First of all, let’s start by redefining what Industry 4.0 is and what characterizes it.
We are currently experiencing the 4th industrial revolution. This represents the digital transformation that is affecting industries. Regardless of the sector, industry is being transformed little by little through the introduction of new technologies.
Some of the recent technologies that are enabling this revolution are:
- Big data: Huge amounts of data can be collected and processed at a speed and scale that is not humanly possible.
- The Internet of Things (IoT): Different devices have a continuous connection to the internet which allows for a constant flow of information.
- Artificial intelligence: The presence of algorithms that run 24 hours a day without the need for human validation.
The collection, processing and interpretation of a monumental amount of data are therefore the basis of Industry 4.0. The aim of these connected systems is to make machines intelligent and autonomous, at least up to a certain point. They continuously monitor their operating status. They use old data to identify and predict malfunctions and propose appropriate solutions. They become capable of adapting themselves to the needs and processes of production.
Why make the transition to Industry 4.0?
Be a pioneer, not a latecomer
The revolution has been going on for a few years now and it is unlikely to stop there. However, many companies have not yet taken the first step. Don’t miss out on the trend and avoid being one of the latecomers under pressure to catch up.
To remain competitive in the coming years, it is essential to keep up with technological developments today. It is important to look to the future and take long-term steps.
Simplify the management of your production line
The technologies that enable Industry 4.0 will simplify the management of your production at different levels. For example:
- Plan a maintenance strategy: Industry 4.0 makes predictive maintenance possible (predicting future equipment failures through continuous analysis of its health). This allows you to get organized and avoid wasting time, resources and money.
- Optimise your resources: these technologies give you a global and precise view of your site and your equipment. Knowing where you consume the most energy and where the losses come from allows you to reduce your overall energy consumption without impacting your production results.
- Manage your logistics remotely: It becomes possible, for example, to trace each of the parts you produced and thus facilitate inventory and avoid losses. Industry 4.0 also enables interconnection between each link in the production chain. You can also monitor and understand which routes are the longest and most costly.
Increase your production efficiency
And yes, Industry 4.0 is an opportunity to boost your efficiency. You can achieve the same levels of production while minimizing your use of resources and the costs that go with it.
Data can yield a phenomenal amount of information that when processed has immense value. Integrating technologies that collect and analyze this data makes it possible to improve your business.
Among other things, this information can prevent delays or losses due to unexpected failures or shutdowns and reduce the time needed to plan processes. This saves considerable time and resources.
Transition 4.0 and the technologies that make it possible allow you to identify your sources of weakness. It is no longer just a matter of fixing the consequences of the problem, but of understanding what caused the problem and identifying its origin in order to prevent it from happening again.
A concrete example of integrating an IoT solution into your day-to-day operations is the use of sensors on equipment that detect anomalies and advise on how to remedy them.
In short, you can become more productive at a lower cost.
At Insens, we know that embarking on this digital transformation is not always easy, which is why we want to help companies on their way to Industry 4.0. We offer an IoT solution that enables both predictive maintenance and energy optimization of your equipment.