Industry 4.0, or the fourth industrial revolution, is a term that refers to the digitalisation of manufacturing processes. It incorporates elements like the Internet of Things (IoT), Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS), and cloud computing. It is a shift from traditional manufacturing and industrial practices to smart and autonomous systems fuelled by data and machine learning.
This revolution is characterised by the fusion of technologies, blurring the lines between physical, digital, and biological spheres. It can improve productivity, foster industrial growth, and modify the profile of the workforce, ultimately changing the competitive landscape of industries.
There are four design principles in Industry 4.0: Interoperability, Information Transparency, Technical Assistance, and Decentralised Decisions. Interoperability refers to machines, devices, sensors, and people connecting and communicating with each other. Information Transparency provides operators with vast amounts of useful information needed to make appropriate decisions. Technical Assistance involves systems assisting humans in decision-making and problem-solving, and even the capability to handle tasks that are unsafe for humans. Decentralised Decisions means cyber-physical systems are capable of making simple decisions on their own and become as autonomous as possible.
Nonetheless, Industry 4.0 also brings challenges such as data security issues, high investment costs, threat of redundancy for those who lack new skillsets, and uncertainty of the socio-economic outcomes. These must be addressed to fully realise the potential of this revolution.
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