Exponential Disruptive Technologies and the Required Skills of Industry 4.0

Abstract

The 21st century has witnessed precipitous changes spanning from the way of life to the technologies that emerged. We have entered a nascent paradigm shift (industry 4.0) where science fictions have become science facts, and technology fusion is the main driver. Thus, ensuring that any advancement in technology reach and benefit all is the ideal opportunity for everyone. In this study, disruptive technologies of industry 4.0 were explored and quantified in terms of the number of their appearances in published literature. The study aimed at identifying industry 4.0 key technologies which have been ill-defined by previous researchers and to enumerate the required skills of industry 4.0. Comprehensive literature survey covering the field of engineering, production, and management was done in multidisciplinary databases: Google Scholar, Science Direct, Scopus, Sage, Taylor & Francis, and Emerald Insight. From the electronic survey, 35 disruptive technologies were quantified and 13 key technologies: Internet of Things, Big Data, 3D printing, Cloud computing, Autonomous robots, Virtual and Augmented reality, Cyber-physical system, Artificial intelligence, Smart sensors, Simulation, Nanotechnology, Drones, and Biotechnology were identified. Both technical and personal skills to be imparted into the human workforce for industry 4.0 were reported. The review identified the need to investigate the capability and the readiness of developing countries in adapting industry 4.0 in terms of the changes in the education systems and industrial manufacturing settings. This study proposes the need to address the integration of industry 4.0 concepts into the current education system.

Effects of alkali treatment on the mechanical and thermal properties of sisal/cattail polyester commingled composites

“…Reinforcement of construction materials such as mud bricks using natural fibers (grass and straw) have been witnessed since the beginning of the era of human civilization (Rizal et al, 2018). With the industry 4.0 revolution, natural fibers from sisal, cattail, flax, date palm, coir, oil palm empty fruit bunch, ramie, sugar palm, bamboo, hemp, rubber wood, jute, pineapple leaf and kenaf have been subject of obsessive research for their possible use in reinforcement of composite materials (Bongomin et al, 2020;Gupta et al, 2016;Khanam et al, 2007;Nasir et al, 2014;Venkateshwaran et al, 2011). This is primarily because they possess superior properties such as high specific strength and stiffness, low density and toxicity, carbon dioxide neutrality, are biodegradable and are readily available.…”

Mechanical Properties of Sisal/Cattail Hybrid‐Reinforced Polyester Composites

“…Since time immemorial, synthetic fibres such as carbon, glass, and aramid have dominated the composite manufacturing sector because of their low cost of production and fairly good mechanical properties [2]. However, with increasing environmental concerns, studies on the possibility of replacing synthetic fibres with natural fibres for polymer composite manufacture are on the rise [3,4].…”

Sustainable and Dynamic Competitiveness Towards Technological Leadership of Industry 4.0: Implications for East African Community

“…However, nowadays, the concept of industry 4.0 has expanded tremendously and its definition goes beyond smart and connected machines and systems and engineering. Its waves of disruption and destruction are also breakthroughs in areas ranging from gene sequencing to nanotechnology, renewable energy to quantum computing, simulation to 3D printing of objects (buildings to body organs) [10,11]. Simply put, industry 4.0 is the fusion of disruptive technologies and their interaction across the physical, digital and biological domains making it rudimentarily unique from previous revolutions [12].…”