‘Industry 4.0’ is one common term that you might have come across too many times in the recent past. Many manufacturers are not confident of what it means and how it can help them enhance their manufacturing unit. Customized smart manufacturing software can be your ally as you move ahead and stand out in the market.
This blog helps you understand what exactly industry 4.0 is and the different ways it can enhance your production unit.
What is industry 4.0?
People know Industry 4.0 as the fourth industrial revolution too. It includes integration and digitalization of all the industrial processes included in the value chain. It helps the manufacturing unit to meet the customer’s needs with ease.
Many experts believe that adopting smart manufacturing software is a qualitative leap that aids in better control of the entire chain of the manufacturing cycle and product delivery.
What are the principles included in digital transformation?
Digital transformation includes a major shift in various principles, which include:
- Decentralization: Smart manufacturing system divides the process into several sub-processes. They further connect them physically or through cyber elements, which help in better decision making and improved transparency.
- Interoperability: A digital factory 4.0 allows enhanced communication between various elements of the factory, such as robots, information systems, smart units, physical machinery and third parties too.
- Virtualization: The change in the unit helps to generate a virtual copy of the unit, as it collects data, industrial process models, and virtual plant models. It helps in finding the troubled areas with ease.
- Analytics: This real time production monitoring software provides the latest data to all the stakeholders. The software can collect and analyze a large amount of data.
- Scalability: Digital factory industry 4.0provides an easy way to adapt to the industry and business needs. The owner can scale the industry as per the requirement and business demand.
Importance of industry 4.0 in Manufacturing
The benefits of digital factory 4.0 are not restricted to certain areas. Proper use of the software helps the owners reap all-around benefits. The key benefits include:
Enhanced production:
Production monitoring software provides the owner with a chance to do more with less. In other words, it allows maximum use of the resources. This change helps in increasing the production rate with minimum wastage.
Improved efficiency:
Proper installation of customized software help increase the efficiency of the production line. The owner can experience lesser machine downtime and a better production rate. Automatic tracking at different stages and automated reporting are a few other features of smart factory software.
Increased knowledge sharing:
Smart manufacturing modules helps in better and transparent communication among production lines, business processes and various departments.
Flexibility:
It becomes easy for the owner to scale production or modify the present product as per market demands. It helps in making the best use of the resources.
Easy compliance:
Certain industries require maintaining high-level regulations, which can be easily achieved with industry 4.0 solutions. Doing it manually can be hard.
Reduced cost:
Digital transformation cannot happen overnight and would need a high level of professionalism for installation. It calls for the upfront cost, but the benefit is worth the initial cost. The owner can enjoy reduced manufacturing costs and increased production. It also helps in the easy resolving of problems and bottlenecks.
Better customer experience:
Smart factory software provides an opportunity to serve the customer better. It could be in terms of quantity, quality or customization. All these factors leave the customer happy and satisfied.
Higher revenue and increased profitability:
All the above-mentioned benefits will result in better production and higher returns. Digital factory 4.0 allows adding new shifts with minimal staff cost to meet higher production demands. It further helps find the problematic areas; thus, stopping the production of below-par products. All these factors help in reducing input costs and increasing profits.
If you are keen on taking the leap, you need to get in touch with a company that deals with smart manufacturing software. Discussing with the experts can help in obtaining the best possible solution.
