The term Industry 4.0 refers to the process of Digital Transformation that concerns the industrial sector and stems from the fourth industrial revolution.
Through the introduction of the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), which includes enabling technologies such as robotics, sensors, connectivity, and programming—previously existing but now interconnected—Industry 4.0 is leading to a fully automated, interconnected, and more efficient industrial production process.
IoT and IIoT: What are the differences?
The IoT (Internet of Things) represents all devices capable of connecting via the internet and exchanging data with other devices. When these devices are introduced into the industrial environment, it is referred to as IIoT (Industrial IoT).
In the context of Smart Manufacturing, Industry 4.0 technologies enable the optimal acquisition, processing, and sharing of information within the production process, revolutionizing production times and models.
Industry 4.0: Examples of IIoT Applications
The applications of IIoT in Industry 4.0 particularly involve areas such as:
Automated Equipment and Resource Management: Thanks to the interconnection and continuous exchange of information between IoT devices, it is possible to monitor equipment in plants located in different geographical areas, exercise greater control over inventory and its location, all in real-time and remotely.
Predictive Maintenance: By analyzing machine operating data and identifying correlations with malfunctions and failures, predictive models can be developed to detect the need for maintenance before a new failure occurs, thereby mitigating potential impacts on safety and production.
Quality Control: Accessing and analyzing data from all devices involved in the production process, as well as tracking the resources used, allows for the detection of defects before the product is delivered to the customer. Studying defects, in addition to being essential for ensuring product safety (a particularly important aspect in sectors like pharmaceuticals), can also provide valuable input for research and development processes, leading to product improvement.
Energy Efficiency and Sustainability: Through the use of sensors, consumption patterns can be monitored, and information on inefficient areas can be obtained, allowing for corrective actions, potentially with the assistance of AI. In terms of sustainability, energy management software allows for the analysis of one’s carbon footprint and, if necessary, the adoption of corrective measures.
Safety and Productivity: The integration of sensors and the processing of data they produce using an edge computing model helps eliminate latency due to the transmission of information to remote systems, enabling the implementation of automatic corrective actions in near-real time, thereby contributing to increased productivity and safety.
What are the technologies of Industry 4.0?
The enabling technologies of Industry 4.0, in addition to IoT, are numerous:
- Big Data & Analytics
- Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning
- Advanced Robotics and Automation
- Additive Manufacturing (3D Printing)
- Cloud Computing
- Edge Computing
- Augmented Reality and Mixed Reality
IIoT, Automation, and AI in Industry 4.0
The concepts of IIoT, Automation, and AI (Artificial Intelligence) are closely interconnected.
Automation becomes a fundamental process both for enabling IIoT and for managing big data, leading to subsequent monitoring, preventive maintenance, and corrective actions. Similarly, it is necessary to build a system that integrates and unifies data that is not homogeneous in origin, as it comes from different systems and processes, potentially distributed across different geographical areas and plants.
These platforms fall under BI (Business Intelligence) systems that enable the training of AI (Artificial Intelligence) and ML (Machine Learning) models for the proper integration of IIoT.
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