Preparing Manufacturing Operations for Industry 4.0

Industry 4.0. Factory of the future. Manufacturing 4.0. Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT). Artificial intelligence. Robotics. Big data. Expert systems. Intelligent instruments. Cloud. Fog. Edge computing…

The buzz about all of the different strategies and technologies that are reshaping manufacturing operations is enough to make your head spin. At the same time, it doesn’t take a lot of reading or discussions with colleagues to recognize the potential of some of these strategies and technologies to transform and streamline many aspects of manufacturing operations; few would dispute that significant industry changes are on the horizon.

The best way to move forward, however, is anything but clear. Undoubtedly, new technologies will be critical to differentiation and growth. But figuring out which ones will be most valuable to your organization is much easier said than done. Betting against change or waiting too long is also dangerous. After all, falling too far behind in the adoption of technologies that deliver a true competitive advantage could spell the end of your organization.

To help you navigate the myriad of Industry 4.0 options and best business opportunities, this paper explores:

• How technology and perspectives have evolved over the years. It’s time for mindset shift.
• Why companies need to pay attention and evolve. You don’t want to fall behind.
• Recommendations on how to determine the best digital path forward. Value creation is key.