What Is Industry 4.0 Technology?

Industry 4.0, also known as the Fourth Industrial Revolution, is all about making business smarter and more automated. Where the Third Industrial Revolution focused on switching mechanical and analog processes to digital ones, the Fourth Industrial Revolution focuses on deepening the impact of our digital technologies by making our machines more self-sufficient, able to “talk” to one another, and to consider massive amounts of data in ways that humans simply can’t—all in the name of efficiency and growth.

Industry 4.0 technology represents a foundational shift in how businesses operate, as fundamental as the change from steam power to electricity in the Second Industrial Revolution.

How is Industry 4.0 Technology Impacting the Manufacturing Industry?

In manufacturing, Industry 4.0 has widespread repercussions. It’s used to leverage operational efficiency, refine demand forecasting, break down data silos, engage in predictive maintenance, offer workers boosts to safety and virtual training, and more. Industry 4.0, as part of a wider concept termed digital transformation, spans manufacturing from planning to delivery, with solutions for deep analytics, shop floor data sensors, smart warehouses, simulated changes, plus product and asset tracking.

For manufacturers, Industry 4.0 technologies help to bridge the gap between what were once separate processes to a more transparent, visible view across the entire organization, with plenty of actionable insights.