[ad_1]
What does Industry 4.0 mean?
Industry 4.0 refers to the technological revolution that is changing the way businesses operate, design, produce and deliver goods and services. This is a new era based on technologies such as artificial intelligence, robotics, the Internet of Things (IoT) or automation.
The Origin of Industry 4.0
The name Industry 4.0 appeared in Germany in 2011 and is connected with the industrial revolution that mankind has experienced previously.
first industrial revolution
The first industrial revolution refers to the period from the second half of the 18th century to the first half of the 19th century, when tremendous economic, social and technological changes occurred.
This historical period began in England and marked a turning point in history that transformed daily life, with agricultural and industrial production doubling at an unprecedented rate.
The introduction of James Watt’s steam engine (patented in 1769) is considered a decisive step in the success of the revolution, as its use meant a huge increase in production capacity.
second industrial revolution
From the end of the 19th century to the outbreak of World War I (1914), industrialization also changed with the emergence of new energy sources such as natural gas, electricity, and oil, and new materials such as steel.
The emergence of production lines and division of tasks can also be seen at this time in history.
This period saw the emergence of industrial mass production, exemplified by the automobile, which led to the spread of its use and the consequent complete and absolute transformation of mobility.
third industrial revolution
This situation emerged in the 1970s, when changes in information technology and electronics led to the automation of production.
This era is also characterized by the increased use of renewable energy and the development and expansion of the use of the Internet.
fourth industrial revolution
The term Industry 4.0 was coined at the 2011 Hannover Messe in Germany and refers to technological revolution and digital innovation.
This is an era marked by digitization and interconnection, in which data and new forms of communication have become extremely important.
Why Industry 4.0 is important
The benefits of Industry 4.0 are many. One of them is that by collecting large amounts of data in real time, information can be obtained quickly, allowing decisions to be made with more precision and certainty.
It also supports product customization.
It also increases productivity. By improving resource allocation, downtime can be reduced.
This level of efficiency also means sustainability, as energy use is optimized, less waste is produced and even the design of the product is conceived in a more sustainable way from its origins.
As we have just seen, Industry 4.0 not only increases efficiency and productivity, but also provides competitive advantages.
Challenges of Industry 4.0
To continue exploring this topic in more depth, we will point out some aspects of Industry 4.0 that can be considered challenging:
- Data security. As the physical and digital worlds increasingly merge, adequate information security is critical to protecting the industrial sector.
- Productivity and worker experience. To maximize the optimization of available new technological tools, the skills of the workforce must be enhanced and developed. The productivity of these tools is tied to the knowledge of the people who apply them.
- Automation and robotics. Although robotics has been elucidated for decades, both robotics and automation can help industrial processes evolve and optimize time (as well as reduce costs).
in conclusion
Industry 4.0 is part of the digital revolution, which, as Telefónica Chairman José María Álvarez-Pallete reminds us, “is the largest in human history”, with an impact four times greater than the first industrial revolution.
Like previous technological revolutions, this one “is changing everything,” not just a single technology but an accumulation of multiple technologies that coexist, feedback, and accelerate each other.
As Alvarez-Pallet reminds us, “never in the history of mankind has so much technology been accumulated in such a short period of time, and therefore our generation is fortunate to live in fascinating times”.
[ad_2]
Source link