Industry 4.0

Industry 4.0 is the term for the fourth industrial revolution, with the “4.0” software naming convention adopted to indicate that digitization and connectivity are at the heart of a new industrial era.

The goal of Industry 4.0 is to make the production and distribution of goods more efficient, flexible and customer-oriented by connecting and managing machinery, devices and sensors via the Internet and the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT).

The first industrial revolution was the shift from manual to steam- and water-powered production in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. The second was marked by the introduction of railways, long-distance communications methods such as the telegraph, and electricity in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The emergence of digital computers in the second half of the 20th century signaled the third.

Convergence of IT and OT

IT-OT convergence is a related term referring to the increasing integration of Information Technology (IT) and Operational Technology (OT). IT stands for traditionally data processing and communication, while OT comprises control and monitoring systems for manufacturing and other physical processes. The convergence is meant to make production smoother and more efficient.

Industry 4.0: Personalized products in real time

A specific goal of Industry 4.0 is to expand options for personalized products that meet customers’ needs and preferences. The seamless integration of digital technologies enables products to be customized and manufactured in real time. At the same time, networked machines make it possible to monitor production processes comprehensively to increase product quality and production efficiency.

IT professionals as drivers of digital transformation

Industry 4.0 represents an exciting challenge for IT professionals instrumental in developing and implementing new technologies to drive digital transformation. This requires the integration of complex IT systems that make it possible to analyze and derive meaningful insights from large volumes of data. This affects all levels of production – from the field level to the control level to the operating level.

Opportunities and risks: Security in Industry 4.0

While production sites previously focused mainly on protecting physical facilities and systems, digital systems must now be secured as well. This includes policies and systems for network segmentation, reliable update management, strict authentication, intrusion detection and data protection. This requires resilient systems for processing, storing and analyzing large volumes of data.