Today, the Fourth Industrial Revolution and its main trend, called Industry 4.0, is happening before our eyes. The Third, the digital Revolution began in the second half of the last century and is coming to its logical conclusion. The peculiarity of the Fourth Industrial Revolution is that its essence consists not only in the emergence of new technologies, but also in the integration of existing ones into one system.
It is extremely important for businesses to follow the trends and implement them in their processes because this concept allows them to increase efficiency, improve product quality, reduce costs, and create new business models. In this article, we will talk about Industry 4.0 and its main principles, as well as about SAP industry 4.0 solutions that turn a business into a smart, self-optimizing system.
Industry 4.0: What It Is and How It Is Changing Modern Business
Industry 4.0 is the concept and a trend of digitalization and Big Data management in manufacturing. It is based on technologies that communicate with each other in a unified ecosystem and thus improve production performance. Industry 4.0 is characterised by fully automated production facilities, where all processes are managed in real time and take into account the variables of external circumstances.
Its important characteristics include automation and reduction of human factor, increased equipment life, combination of physical and digital worlds, and others. Read on to learn more about the key elements of Industry 4.0.
The Internet of Things (IoT)
This technology involves using the internet to exchange information not only between people, but also between different machines, sensors, and devices. Devices that are provided with sensors can exchange and process data without human intervention. However, humans can also be actively involved in this process, such as in the case of smart homes. In the case of business, it is a direct route to fully automated production. Key components of the equipment are provided with various sensors, and the data collected by them is processed and sent to the relevant services of the company. This allows employees to make quick decisions and prevent errors.
Cyber-Physical Systems
In other words, it is a hybrid of technology and physical processes. The main idea of such systems is to maximize automation, with partial or complete exclusion of humans from production processes. The thing is that the human factor often leads to errors and inaccuracies that result in losses for the business. Cyber-physical systems allow for improving the efficiency of production processes and provide real-time data exchange.
Big Data and Analytics
The Fourth Industrial Revolution implies the rapid processing of huge amounts of data supplied by thousands of smart devices and sensors. Analyzing Big Data helps companies improve efficiency and productivity and reduce production costs. In addition, understanding data from different sources helps create adaptive production lines.
SAP Industry 4.0 Solutions and Their Role in Digital Transformation
SAP systems stand out in today’s market, and more and more companies are implementing them to automate and optimize processes. In the context of Industry 4.0, SAP offers solutions that help manufacturing companies to digitally transform their business, thereby reducing costs and accelerating innovation. Now, we’re going to tell you more about the main benefits of SAP-based Industry 4.0.
Creating Innovative Products
SAP solutions allow you to create smart products and produce them in autonomous, data-driven factories. By implementing SAP Industry 4.0 solutions, companies can optimize processes, personalize delivery, and launch new product lines through IoT, analytics, and AI.
Unified Infrastructure
Industry 4.0 solutions from SAP ensure that companies can seamlessly exchange data between equipment, production systems, and enterprise platforms. This simplifies data exchange and increases process transparency, thus reducing the likelihood of inaccuracies and errors.
Predictive Asset Management
SAP Industry 4.0 solutions involve the use of digital twins and sensor data in order to monitor the condition of equipment, detect failures, and prevent breakdowns promptly. In this way, companies avoid unplanned expenses and equipment downtime.
Other advantages of implementing SAP solutions include the ability to use AI-based analytics and augmented reality tools, and access to complete equipment information.
Another important aspect of adopting SAP solutions, including those related to Industry 4.0, is that this system is quite complex to implement. Often, companies wishing to implement these solutions turn to LeverX experts for help. We power companies’ digital transformation and provide our partners and customers with a full range of high-quality services, from consulting and implementation to support.
If your company needs professional services related to Industry 4.0 and SAP solutions, we invite you to learn more about LeverX experts, because as an SAP Gold Partner, SAP Global Strategic Supplier, SAP Integrator, and SAP Value Added Reseller, we know what to pay attention to and how to make the system as customized as possible.