Since many manufacturing process data are at risk of a cybersecurity threat due to ubiquitous connectivity in the industry 4.0 environment, how safe and secure can we be in ensuring the production information is not compromised? Remote monitoring and diagnostics with secured systems improve productivity to another level, bringing AI and IoT towards the beginning of production analysis and optimisation strategies.
Discerning IR4.0, IoT and AI
The important focus of industry 4.0 is to understand and explain the outputs of processes and the behaviour of machines. The combination of IoT and AI drives towards predictive maintenance to reduce the possibility of sudden downtime and minimise maintenance costs. Predicting the need for service and care by addressing the problems before the failures occur helps save costs and improve efficiency.
Using IoT as our eyes and brain to feed data into the system for further analysis in a production or factory environment helps to create a world of AI with infinite possibilities of improved efficiency and reliability.
For example, the IoT devices connected to types of machinery can be used to monitor production efficiency, uptime, downtime and usage, which gives insights on priority machines which need upgrades due to higher utilisation in the long run. Furthermore, AI and machine learning can be used to guard the system through cybersecurity technology and analyse the information.
New tech application for smart transition
In industrial settings, massive amounts of data are generated daily. The amount of information can be so huge that humans could spend years analysing the data without deriving a conclusion. However, with AI, machines and advanced computing capabilities driving these analyses, transforming the data into accurate insights can drive decision-making and increase productivity.
It can be costly to transform a standard factory into a smart factory aligned with Industry 4.0. Efforts towards making this happen cannot rely on just a fixed system, as different factories may have other existing machines and requirements. To completely overhaul the factory with the latest industry 4.0 equipment capable of using IoT technologies for data monitoring and analysis may not be feasible for some companies due to operation and maintenance costs. The best solution is to leverage existing systems with additional custom-made solutions best fit for the current factory to transit towards industry 4.0.
Having said this, the role of the education and technology industries play an essential role. Equipping students and working forces with adequate training and knowledge to form the future of industry 4.0 technologies is necessary. The fourth industrial revolution occurs when we can conceptualise the interconnectivity and smart automation industries. How fast can this happen? Where can this lead us?
The fourth industrial revolution represents fundamental changes in how we live, work and create value for organisations. It is just not a mere technology-driven change. It is an opportunity to help everyone to harness converging technologies to create inclusive and meaningful transformation where virtual and physical systems take place in the digitisation of the manufacturing sectors making life more convenient and efficient.
In the rapid change of technological advancement, we must also keep in mind the environment and sustainability. It is vital to ensure the ability to maintain ecological balance in our planet's natural environment for the well-being of the current and future generations. Value creation in industry 4.0 can include environmental consideration and sustainability to ensure efficient production and manufacturing yet a sustainable future for our children.
In summary, the fourth industrial revolution transforms existing manufacturing processes by creating interaction between devices and enabling end-to-end information by bridging the physical and digital world through autonomous systems. As a result of the autonomous system, our work has become more efficient and optimised.
Ultimately, machines or devices become digitally connected with data contextualisation through the realisation of Industry 4.0. But how far can we go? Our future generation will embark on a period of unparalleled technological advancement.
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