What is Industry 4.0?
Industry 4.0 describes a continued trend towards automation and data exchange in manufacturing technologies and processes which can include capabilities such as cyber-physical systems (CPS), cloud computing, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), robotics and Augmented/Virtual Reality (AR/VR). This will mean different things to different industries, but the technology blocks are there to support continued. In a word, it’s about ‘data’ – how to capture the right data to provide the right business insights for companies from their assets. It’s been accelerated by the price of core technologies coming down rapidly, including the price of compute, connectivity and storage infrastructure.
What can Industry 4.0 do for you?
Cost Efficiencies: Machine monitoring solutions, predictive maintenance strategies, workforce and utility utilisation will help manufacturers decrease downtime, increase throughput and reduce the cost of supplying quality parts.
Operational Agility: Enabling manufacturing companies to quickly react to fluctuating demand, new product trends and gaps both organisationally and from a skills perspective which can limit technology adoption.
Democratizing Data: Addressing the challenge of siloed data, both locally in factories and departments but also within supply chains. Its not about generating more data, its about focusing on the right connected operations through shop floor, enterprise and facility applications. Thus enabling accessibility to disparate data sources, providing an easy way to use that data for effective decision-making.
How can IMR help?
IMR lead a 200+ company network enabling large scale collaborative research across 4 key themes; digitization, Automation & Advanced Control, Design for Manufacturing and Sustainable Manufacturing. We have over 100 staff with 70+ subject matter experts in all aspects of I4.0.
IMR are heavily focused on supporting companies utilize I4.0 technologies to transform their businesses. The services offered include placing industrially embedded researchers into organisations, pilot line concept development, prototyping and test bed development.
IMR provide consultancy services in business and technology transformation, utilizing the World Economic Forum (WEF) accredited Smart Industry Readiness Index (SIRI) framework. This enables companies to identify and drive an impact led approach rather than a technology led approach.
Next Steps
IMR support manufacturing companies through demystifying, derisking and delivering technologies which will have a meaningful and impact on their transformation strategies. If this approach and I4.0 is of interest to your company then please, reach out to us.
