The fourth industrial revolution (industry 4.0)

Although we are in the past three industrial revolutions:

1. The first industrial revolution: (era of machine production)
2. The second industrial revolution: (age of science and mass production)
3. The third industrial revolution: (digital revolution)
We have not been present and we have not dealt with its problems, but we should not think that there is no other industrial revolution coming. Because history has witnessed many industrial revolutions and it will happen again.
During its ten-year period, the fourth generation industry has focused less on the principles of fairness and social sustainability and has focused more on digitization and artificial intelligence-based technologies in order to increase production efficiency and flexibility.

Who was the first to mention this word?

The term fourth industrial revolution was first used by the founder and executive director of the World Economic Forum, Klaus Schwab. He claims that these changes we are witnessing go beyond improvements in optimization and represent a transformation in industrial capitalism.

Part of these industrial changes is the result of the use of technologies such as artificial intelligence and advanced robotics.

These technologies are blurring the boundaries between the physical, digital and biological worlds. The books “Fourth Industrial Revolution” and “Overcoming Indifference” are among his published works.

According to Klaus Schwab: After all, we may have direct connections between our minds and the digital world.

In short, the fourth industrial revolution will change our understanding of the world around us by benefiting from technologies such as the Internet of Industrial Things, cloud computing and artificial intelligence, and by focusing on the application of different technologies, it will enable the connection between different production components.

Uses :

Smart factory is a concept used to describe the use of various technologies to achieve highly flexible and self-adaptive production capacity. Smart factories and complexes achieve a new form of flexibility and productivity by connecting different processes, data flows in a simple way.

Digital twins play an important and essential role in smart factories and complexes.
Smart operator is another concept that has been formed in line with the fourth industrial revolution. Smart operator helps to improve their performance by providing efficient and effective technological services for various industries.

Technologies of the fourth industrial revolution:

-Cyber security: With the increase in connections and the use of big data in Industry 4.0, cyber security becomes of great importance. By implementing Zero Trust architecture and technologies such as machine learning and blockchain, organizations can automate the process of threat detection, prevention and response, and minimize the risk of data breaches and production delays in their networks.

-Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT): The Internet of Things (IoT), and in particular, the Industrial Internet of Things (IIOT), is so important to Industry 4.0 that the two terms are often used interchangeably. Most physical objects in Industry 4.0, such as devices, robots, machines, equipment and products, use RFID and NFC sensors and tags to provide real-time data about their status, performance or location.

-Technical skills gap: With the digitization of processes, businesses need people who are familiar with today’s technologies. Businesses that benefit from the presence of human resources proficient in digital processes will be able to make good use of new technologies for their development. Therefore, people must learn new skills needed in the business world in order to maintain or guarantee their future career.

– Data Sensitivity: The introduction of new technologies has increased concerns about privacy, ownership, data management, and IP. AI processes need to access company data while companies emphasize on keeping their data safe and secure.

-Asset tracking and optimization: The components of the fourth industrial revolution help manufacturers to operate more efficiently at each stage of the supply chain and have better control over inventory, quality and optimization opportunities related to logistics. By using the Internet of Things in a factory, employees can have a better view of business assets anywhere in the world. Also, standard asset management tasks such as asset transfers, reclassifications and adjustments can be managed centrally and in real time.

Some of the results of the 4th industrial revolution for businesses:

-Fundamental advances in productivity and automation: Businesses are moving toward data-driven decision-making, improving forecasting accuracy, supporting just-in-time delivery, and moving toward optimization throughout their operations.

– Discovery of new business models and use of opportunities: business costs are reduced, market efficiency is improved.

-Sustainable solutions without compromising profitability: Organizations become more efficient and cost-effective with digitalization. Such organizations meet their environmental goals without jeopardizing other business goals, such as profitability and scalability, such as the smartening of office, commercial and residential buildings.

In short, this technology allows organizations to better run their supply chains and design and modify products faster, prevent equipment breakdowns, maintain consumer preferences, and track products and inventory.

The fourth industrial revolution is built on nine pillars of technology. These innovations create a bridge between the physical and digital worlds that make it possible to launch intelligent and autonomous systems. Currently, businesses and supply chains use some of these advanced technologies, but the full potential of Industry 4.0 will come to life when all of these technologies are used together.

In fact, one of the biggest promises of the fourth industrial revolution is to improve people’s quality of life and increase income levels.

-Organizations become smarter and more efficient.

-Increase Productivity,

-increase efficiency,

-improving the quality of processes,

Greater safety for workers by reducing their employment in hazardous work environments.

Improving decision-making with the help of data-based tools is another opportunity of this revolution.

The technologies of the fourth industrial revolution may even help us better prepare for natural disasters, as well as potentially moderate some of the damage caused by previous industrial revolutions.