Industry 4.0 - or the '4th Industrial Revolution' - is expected to accelerate over the next two to three years, transforming manufacturing processes on the way. The 'Engineers Journal' is conducting a short survey among our readers.
This Insights survey, in partnership with Festo, is being used to judge the market response to Industry 4.0 and to assess the automation and technology needs of the manufacturing industry in Ireland. Please take 60 seconds of your time to answer a dozen questions and give yourself a chance to win an iPad Pro.
With Industry 4.0, computers and automation will come together in an entirely new way, with robotics connected remotely to computer systems, which will be equipped with machine-learning algorithms that can learn and control the robotics with very little input from human operators.
The 'Smart Factory'
Industry 4.0 introduces what has been termed the 'Smart Factory', in which supply chains and production processes will become more interconnected, efficient and flexible, allowing mass customisation and virtual production. Cyber-physical systems become the Internet of Things, communicating and co-operating both with each other and with humans in real time via the wireless web.
Calls from industry for greater availability, energy efficiency and just-in-time production are on the increase and are pushing the need for the integration of the 'Smart Factory'; therefore, in order to succeed in today’s market, it is imperative that manufacturers collaborate with third-party automation technology providers to ensure a successful transition.
Have your say on this important issue and be in with a chance to win an iPad Pro. Go to the following link to the survey:
http://www.engineersjournal.ie/survey to take part.