Pursue the Right Path to Industry 4.0 Avoid wrong turns that can lead the journey astray

摘要

MANUFACTURING CONTINUES to evolve and has progressed through four stages thus far.It started with the implementation of steam power to mechanization.The second stage comprised mass production and the introduction of the assembly line powered by electricity.The third stage added computers and automation into the mix and,in the fourth stage,cyber-physical systems emerged to enable the computerization of manufacturing.This stage currently is evolving before our eyes and commonly is referred to as Industry 4.0.”Industrie 4.0,”coined by the German government in a national strategy to promote the computerization of manufacturing,exemplifies the fourth industrial revolution on the way to an internet of things,data and services.Decentralized intelligence helps innovate intelligent object networking and independent process management,with the interaction of the real and virtual worlds representing a crucial new aspect of the production process.