Industry 4.0: Key Questions in Manufacturing

Abstract

The actual industrial revolution is bringing multiple opportunities of increased productivity through Cyber-Physical Systems, better cost control and decision making through Digitization and improved data communication chain through IoT. However, finding the best fit within Industry 4.0 context and writing the business case to support massive investments is not an easy task considering the organisations and the environment dynamics. The risk of disruptive implementation may be also high and involving massive implications. The paper proposes to highlight in a structured way . top-down approach . the key questions to address as an organization when leaving the awareness phase and preparing the implementation. This is a cross-industry study, covering as well different patterns: make to stock, make to order, engineering to order.

Is Malaysia ready for Industry 4.0? Issues and Challenges in Manufacturing Industry

“…The broad define on Industry 4.0 would confuse the manufacturers. Though Industry 4.0 contains plenty of elements, choices on the right elements and time to implements are based on various specific industry, market, business, organization and manufacturing environment features [98]. Presently, SMEs in Malaysia is positioned as a beginner in the aspect of Industry 4.0 strategic and organization, the overall Industry 4.0 maturity is low [95].…”

“…Cost and benefit of the Industry 4.0 technologies are the concern for both Industry4WRD and previous studies but the difference is Malaysia short of analysing on this whilst the other county had misgiving about the uncertainty. Both the cost and benefit of Industry 4.0 technologies are hard to evaluate because all these are completely new without previous references [98]. Another divergence on this barrier is previous studies are pay attention to the result of the implemented advanced technologies but Malaysia has a gab on infrastructures and facilities to kick start Industry 4.0.…”

“…Different company has its own decision on strategies and planning to realize Industry 4.0. Moreover, some Industry 4.0 technologies are topup "computing incentive" to the existing technologies in the manufacturing company [98]. The discrepancies in system, technology, software, devices and machine are lead to scale up the technologies to the entire value chain.…”

Implementation of Robot Welding in the Context of Industry 4.0 Development

“…To increase the quality of the products but also the manufacturing process, intelligent factories introduced robotic manufacturing systems. The robotic cells contain sensors and special tracking systems that allow the tracking of the production process as well as the human-robot collaboration in a safe workspace, [21,22]. The paper presents the possibility of implementing robotic welding in the automotive industry, to increase the quality and productivity of the production process of longeron type assemblies, an integral part of the car chassis.…”