Transforming Manufacturing by Creating a Smarter Environment By Thiagarajan N, Director IT at IMI Critical Engineering

Transforming Manufacturing by Creating a Smarter Environment

Thiagarajan N, Director IT at IMI Critical Engineering | Thursday, 16 November 2017, 05:31 IST

  •  No Image

Introduction

Industry 4.0 is the topic very popular today because of its big influence on manufacturing. The phrase ‘Industry 4.0’ has been in use for a few years, but has started to gather more traction only in the last year or two in the form of Digitization. Now, as it gathers force, Industry 4.0 looks ever more likely to come to life and businesses should prepare to make the most of the opportunities it presents and deal with the impact.

Industry 4.0 is focused on creating smart environ­ment in the manufacturing process.

The Manufacturing sector is an important pillar of our economy, and digital manufacturing is a Key enabler to ensure competitiveness for the sector. It contributes between 25 to 30% of our GDP.

Industry 4.0 is focused on creating intelligent prod­ucts, processes and procedures. The essence of the in­dustry 4.0 is in the Internet of Things and Internet of Services.

Computers and automation will come together, in particular based on cyber physical production systems that integrate communications, IT, data and physical elements and these systems transform the traditional plants into smart factories.

1st Industrial revolution – Machines and Utilization of machines

2nd Industrial revolution – Mass production (Volume)

3rd Industrial revolution – Employing Automation

4th Industrial revolution – Cyber physical system (Ma­chine talking to Machine)

Today’s condition in India

Industry 4.0 needs to be differentiated from prevailing concepts such as;

• IOT (Internet Of Things)

Big Data

• 3D Printing

• Automation (Siloes)

It will be the combination of intelligent machines, informed manufacturing and processes.

• Create new routes towards lighter capital intensity and increased value.

• Reduce capital employed utilization and increase prof­it.

India has a long way to travel to become world’s pre­ferred manufacturing destination. Majority of the prob­lem lies in Infrastructure issues, Bureaucracy and avail­ability of energy sources.

It is already estimated that majority of our Indian Industries are presently in a situation between Industry 2.0 and Industry 3.0.

It means we are still heavily relying on standalone machineries for Mass production. As more and more overseas clients are engaged in the trend of intelligent production and data exchange, they also include more and more Industry 4.0 elements into their supplier re­quirements.

What should our Manufacturing companies need to do?

To address the local trend of product and service cus­tomization, our industries must change the gear to close the gap with Industry 4.0. The new industry revolution will require an enhanced approach to protect the future of our competitiveness. Industry 4.0 emphasizes the idea of consistent digitization and changes the economic rules of the industry.

Smart manufacturing marries information technol­ogy and human to bring rapid revolution in the devel­opment of manufacturing industries.

Key Challenges for the Indian Manufacturing compa­nies to adopt Industry 4.0

• The ownership of adopting new technologies and Management change will have to be driven by the C-suite team (at present it is a short term mindset).

• Top Management needs to give space for the next gen­eration.

• Accelerate and Embrace beyond Digitization.

• Shortage of skill sets.

• Increase in Data volume, therefore adequate IT sys­tems to analyze the data.

• Needs a long term commitment.

• Is not a single industry solution but has a widespread impact.

• Needs interdisciplinary collaboration.

Key Risks for the Industries to move on to Industry 4.0

Technology is more or less present today, but;

1. Data security

2. Lack of Standardization

3. Social Impact

4. Growth of IOT market are considered to be the key risks.

Conclusion

Fundamentally this is about developing product and service solutions to our customers. Companies can evolve their market offerings, moving from a tra­ditional physical core product to a comprehensive digital ecosystem.

Companies can evolve their market offerings, moving from a traditional physical core product to a comprehensive digital ecosystem

CIO Viewpoint

Transforming Manufacturing by Creating a...

By Thiagarajan N, Director IT at IMI Critical Engineering

How Reliance Entertainment leverages SMAC and...

By Sayed Peerzade, Group CIO, Reliance Big Entertainment & Reliance Entertainment - Digital

CXO Insights

Hit Reset with Technology as the Trusted Advisor

By Guruprasad Gaonkar, APAC SaaS Leader - Office of Finance (ERP) & Digital Supply Chain, Oracle

ERP Implementation: The Pitfalls to Avoid

By By Navjot Singh Sidana, General Manager – ERP, Delhi Integrated Multi-Modal Transit System (DIMTS) Ltd.

Power And Water Nexus Central To Data Center...

By Harry Harri, Associate Vice President, Management Consulting, Asia, Black and Veatch

Facebook