March 2019

43 www.drivesncontrols.com March 2019 EXECUTIVE VIEWPOINT n Industry 4.0: making the connection “The ability to gather and analyse data and transfer it to an intelligent management system is vital.” From a manufacturing perspective, the importance of Industry 4.0 is encapsulated in the many benefits it can bring to businesses. Predictive maintenance, energy monitoring, flexible production and real-time information from the shopfloor, are helping manufacturers to revolutionise their facilities, making them more adaptable and potentially opening up new markets and ventures. To make these benefits a reality, much of the key technology of Industry 4.0 is focused on accessing “big data” from connected devices. Smart factories rely on industrial Internet and the cloud to connect the real and virtual worlds, allowing the whole production process to be monitored. The ability to gather and analyse data and transfer it to an intelligent management system is vital. Not only is access to production data from your machines hugely valuable, the advent of cloud computing enables you to monitor production and manage connections from anywhere in the world. The importance of these industrial connections can be demonstrated by their potential use across the manufacturing and intralogistics environments, from the receiving of goods through to shipping. Used in conjunction with UHF RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) systems, it will be possible to implement thorough stock control, to locate orders and to track goods as they are shipped. By optimising the flow of materials and automating processes in this way, organisations can become more agile, cost-effective and productive. Advances in connector technology, particularly miniaturisation, are also being fuelled by Industry 4.0. As devices such as tablets, sensors and cameras get smaller, so connecting interfaces including system cables must follow suit. However, while these components are reducing in size, they are simultaneously becoming more powerful. These advances are significant because they are delivering innovations not just to the industrial sector, but also to us as consumers in our day-to-day lives. In addition, as the technology becomes more widespread, it’s no longer the sole preserve of manufacturers with huge budgets, meaning that SMEs can start to see the benefits of improved business performance. n Managing Director, Harting Peter Hannon onito n mid orl w una MKU • reutcaf cnE ar ons f it solu reod o 0 (44 +:leT /kuo.c.rdeonce.ww w:beW .mirFderetsige R1009OSI • .ytilaicep Sastnelaviuq EyrtsudnI • .tnailpmo CSHoR • .sya d 3yllacipyTyrevile • D .yntarra Wrae Y3 • . .. 00126 28791)