Industry 4.0

Qu’est-ce que l’industrie 4.0

Industry 4.0 is said to be the fourth industrial revolution. The first, in the early 1800s, was mechanization. The second, just before the 1900s, was that of mass production with electricity and oil. The third, in the early 1970s, was electronics and computers.

The fourth is that of the interconnection of all electronic devices and the analysis of the data generated.

The third industrial revolution left us with complex and independent systems. Tons of data mixed up on a network ... Sometimes good systems exist, but none talk to each other. They all have their own database, language, or file format.

Your business uses an ERP software (ERP) for SAP? Your documents are saved in a PML software from PTC WindChill? Is your production data saved in CSV or HDF5 format on your internal network? Your project management is done on Asana? Are returns and manufacturing defects noted with Excel lists? Have you paid a lot of money for your software and they can't communicate with each other?

The fourth industrial revolution will change all this. Businesses that make the transition are winning over the competition, and it's just getting started.

Not only can we connect the software together, we automate the data acquisition and generate more. In addition, we ensure the traceability and quality of the recording. Subsequently, it is possible to use the data mining to create added value.

How can Industry 4.0 help your business?

Optimisation

Connecting systems with each other allows you to optimize your processes. You know each of the production steps, however, do you have all the exact data of their completion for the last six months? What is their FPY? Which fault mainly affects your production line? What problems do your subcontractors face? Which department of your business is the most profitable? Do you tools all have the same durability?

Automating

Automation is defined as the total or partial performance of technical tasks by machines operating without human intervention. Contrary to popular belief, it's not just for big business, and no need for robots either. Do you know how many people do manual data entry in your business? How do you generate your documentation? How long does it take your sales people to enter data into the system, your engineers to make purchases, your clerks to serve your customers? This is the reason why fast food chains offer automatic ordering stations ...

Automation pays off three times:

1. The time savings generated by replacing a manual step with an automatic step.
2. Increase the value of your data through systematic, orderly and traceable. It therefore becomes possible to precisely identify the most problematic places in your processes.
3. The creation of a database offering artificial intelligence (AI) solutions; for example, the development of more efficient and complex automation systems, the analysis and identification of non-trivial trends, etc.

Internet of things (IoT)

The arrival of communication 5G, will multiply the number of connected devices in our personal and professional lives. New business models will emerge. For example, customers will buy the measurements rather than the instruments. The manufacturers will ensure quality control in real time. To do so, they will use data from their connected instruments. These data will then be used to develop even more efficient instruments. Artificial intelligence (AI) will then gain in importance. Either way, 5G communication will generate even more data.

Therefore, initiating a shift to 4.0 by planning an action plan aligned with the business needs of the company is a guarantee of future success.

Where to start?

First, we must study the question. What are your irritants, those of your employees? What is your end goal: to maximize return on investment, minimize the impact on your current processes, accelerate your processes, improve the quality of your products? A 4.0 audit will help you identify a first series of measures, which will allow you to consider certain possible solutions. You can then establish a long-term master plan. The development of an action plan can then be put forward by selecting the projects with the best potential.

You don't have to do it all at once. Innovation Codotek will help you select your projects by providing accurate evaluations in time and money. We develop and use software that is easily modifiable and maintainable. Thus, it is always possible to add functionality.

Change management

The success of such projects does not only depend on the quality of the software put in place. Equally important is employee buy-in and support. To do this, they must be included in the reflection and discussions. At Codotek Innovation, we take the time to understand the issues and talk to people. We are working to ensure that the project challenges them positively.

Following these changes, will employee training be required? Depending on the new reality, we can provide for an immediate transition, training, upgrading of skills or a transfer to new positions.

In all cases, contact us for a quote. We will be able to enlighten you and answer your questions.