Manufacturing 4.0 and the Internet of Things

2016 is shaping up to be a most interesting time in UK manufacturing. After three or four years of strong growth, the industry has been facing a few challenges in recent months. However, with a greater emphasis than ever before on the benefits of smart technology as a key enabler for informed, event based decision making, performance improvement and competitive advantage, now is the best time to consider your digitisation strategy. As they say, “When you can’t change the direction of the wind – adjust your sails”.

Manufacturing 4.0 and the Internet of Things (IoT)

The push toward factory digitisation took a major step forward in 2015 at the Future Factory conference at the Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC), where leading engineers, business people and academics from across the UK and Europe discussed how our factories will evolve in a more digitalised and connected way.  This is also a core focus for the HVM Catapult and Innovate UK (the Government’s innovation agency). You’re going to hear a lot about Digitisation, Manufacturing 4.0 and the Internet of Things (IoT).

Have you heard about Digitisation, Manufacturing 4.0 and the Internet of Things (IoT) already? Do you feel a bit confused by it all or are you unsure how it might apply to you? These concepts are taking shape before our eyes as the technology and ideas evolve and gain momentum. We think that fundamentally it’s about connectivity and data and Seiki has been delivering these types solutions for over 20 years. We take it a bit further in the manufacturing world to include integration, tracking and control, where the ambition is to apply these principles to improve productivity, service levels and price competitiveness.

Start your Digitisation journey

Many are still waiting and watching to see what it could do for their business. The technology and core principles are established and we won’t be able to escape from a connected, data driven future at home, work or play. Modern applications are being designed to move data from being “exhaust fumes” to “fuel” and so to extract the most value from your data, and to stay ahead of the game you need to start developing your strategy now. Whether you’re starting your digitisation journey by simply connecting your machines to our DNC system or taking that next step to collect and analyse their event and performance data with our Monitoring and SFDC systems, you’re already on the right track.

> Related article: Industry 4.0 – Start your digital transformation on the shop floor