Author: Future Manager Research Center
The fourth industrial revolution is coming. This is an intelligent era. The background of the trade war is nothing more than a war of technological intelligence.
Since the outbreak of the global financial crisis in 2008, the economies of the most powerful countries have been severely damaged, prompting them to re-recognize the importance of manufacturing. They have proposed revitalization plans.
The United States’ trade war was not a whim. As early as June 2011, the Obama administration launched the American Advanced Manufacturing Program (AMP), to ensure US advanced manufacturing leadership. The establishment of the National Manufacturing Innovation Network (NNMI) also means to accelerate the application of scientific research results to the industry.
Germany proposed “Industry 4.0” in 2011, and its core system CPS (Cyber-Physical System) depicts to us a future where the virtual digital world and the physical world merge.
In the “Made in China 2025” proposed by China in 2012, intelligent manufacturing, mobile communications, IoT, and cloud computing are listed as strategic industries. In 2015, China announced the implementation of “Made in China 2025” and strived to become a manufacturing mainstay by 2025.
5G is the newest generation of wireless technology, so what does 5G mean for Industry 4.0 manufacturing?
First of all, this high-performance wireless network connects the massive sensors, robots, and information systems in the factory. The massive and high-quality data generated by the connection are constantly been used by AI. Then Analysis and decisions are sent back to the factory. At the same time, the 5G IoT network has global coverage, connecting widely distributers, cross-regional goods, customers and suppliers, etc. 5G helps to maintain full connection throughout the product life cycle and achieve integrations within and outside the plant.
Artificial intelligence will influence manufacturing productivity.
Artificial intelligence can increase the level of intelligence in the manufacturing industry and extend the working time in the factories. Using intelligent robots means that factories can achieve longer working hours. Enterprises can decrease extra overtime costs to enable the factory to operate 24 hours a day. There have been non-stop operation factories called “Unmanned Factory” in the United States, Japan, Germany and other countries.
The second is that artificial intelligence can promote the matching of production and demand to improve the flexibility of production lines. Artificial intelligence predicts market trends and scientifically arranges production plans across the entire industrial chain, so the supply chain can maintain the minimum inventory, or even “zero inventory”.
At the same time, artificial intelligence can improve the quality inspection level and increase the product yield. AI comprehensively monitors all aspects of the production line in real time. Compared with traditional methods, AI’s monitoring of the production process can greatly improve the company’s ability to supervise and control product quality, reduce product failure rates, and increase production efficiency. There are some companies using AI to carry out a quality inspection of the production process, which helped them to increase hundreds of millions in profits every year.
What are your observations about industry 4.0 in manufacturing?