Industry 4.0 is the dawn of the next generation of work processes, with increasing artificial intelligence and the automation of work. It’s time to consider how will this effect the human element in the future of work?
“And now we enter Industry 4.0, in which computers and automation will come together in an entirely new way, with robotics connected remotely to computer systems equipped with machine learning algorithms that can learn and control the robotics with very little input from human operators” (Marr, 2016).
Cyber Physical Systems of Industry 4.0
![Industry 4.0](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3AIndustry_4.0.png "By Christoph Roser. Please credit Christoph Roser at [http://www.allaboutlean.com AllAboutLean.com", if possible with link. (Own work) [CC BY-SA 4.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)], via Wikimedia Commons\" href=\"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3AIndustry_4.0.png\"><img width=\"512\" alt=\"Industry 4.0\" src=\"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c8/Industry_4.0.png/512px-Industry_4.0.png\"/></a>")
Cyber Physical Systems (CPS) are connected via a modular approach and will also be de-centralised, with increased communication and understanding at this modular level to refine and develop.
“CPS can be further developed for managing Big Data and leveraging the interconnectivity of machines to reach the goal of intelligent, resilient and self-adaptable machines. Furthermore by integrating CPS with production, logistics and services in the current industrial practices, it would transform today’s factories into an Industry 4.0 factory with significant economic potential” (Lee, Bagheri & Kao, 2015).
The Internet of Things
“The Internet of things (IoT) is the inter-networking of physical devices, vehicles (also referred to as “connected devices” and “smart devices”), buildings, and other items embedded with electronics, software, sensors, actuators, and network connectivity which enable these objects to collect and exchange data (Wikipedia, 2017).
“Data is a precious thing and will last longer than the systems themselves” by Tim Berners-Lee, Inventor of the World Wide Web.
Industry 4.0 Video Resources
Industry 4.0 is predicted to occur over the next 20 years, what the interaction between computer and machine will develop will be interesting to follow. What jobs will become obsolete and what will jobs of the future look like are all unknowns and one for the education system to consider. Coding, science, technology, mathematics, artificial intelligence may be some of the skills to consider.
Keywords: Industry 4.0; Internet of Things; AI; Machine Learning.
References
Lee, J., Bagheri, B., & Kao, H. A. (2015). A cyber-physical systems architecture for industry 4.0-based manufacturing systems. Manufacturing Letters, 3, 18-23.
Marr, B. (2016) What Everyone Must Know About Industry 4.0. Forbes.com
Wikipedia (2017) Industry 4.0