Industry 4.0, the fourth industrial revolution, combines the power of the internet with the power of automated machines .
High-performance processing and data storage have enabled the emergence of intelligent industrial equipment, such as assembly, packaging, and inspection equipment; these devices can monitor multiple sensor channels and execute complex real-time algorithms, such as high-speed multi-axis motor drives or precision positioning. These advancements alone have already empowered manufacturing companies to achieve significant gains in capabilities, quality, and productivity.
While onboard functionality has become incredibly complex and widely understood, the value of machine sensor data extends far beyond basic monitoring and control. The power of cloud computing now offers the means to unlock this additional value. Big data is on the horizon, bringing unprecedented opportunities to improve business performance.
Big Data, Big Opportunities
There are two main areas of opportunity. First, cloud power can be used in a near-real-time role to enable continuous machine optimization and dynamic maintenance scheduling. This can replace traditional maintenance at fixed time intervals, thus helping to reduce ownership costs and downtime, and enabling equipment vendors to adopt a more flexible "as a service" business model.
In the long run, historical analysis can leverage the sheer volume of data, its rich knowledge base, and the powerful data analytics capabilities of cloud computing to provide value-added services. (Machine differences...)
