Industry 4.0

Abstract

The Fourth Industrial Revolution (or Industry 4.0) represents the digital transformation and automation of traditional manufacturing processes. The first industrial revolution introduced mechanization, the second industrial revolution emphasized mass production. The third industrial revolution and the fourth, its extension, have been characterized by the advent of electronics and automation. Industry 4.0 strives to acquire higher efficiency with enhanced productivity through waste reduction, reduced production time, and lower cost. The key technological areas swayed by Industry 4.0 include the Internet of Things, Autonomous Robots, Cyber Systems, advanced Factories, Additive Manufacturing, Artificial Intelligence, and Big Data Analytics. Some of the challenges posed by the introduction of Industry 4.0 span higher capital cost requirements for the transition from Industry 3.0 to Industry 4.0. Further, since seamless connectivity is the baseline for automation of machines and factories in Industry 4.0, cyber security is one key aspect of concern, and it poses a major challenge. Up-gradation of skills of the workers and making them ready for a change are among other aspects to be addressed for efficient implementation of Industry 4.0.