As you begin your career in the manufacturing industry, you might hear the term “Industry 4.0” being thrown around. That’s because the world goes through industrial revolutions due to significant changes in the industry. As we speak, we’re right in the middle of another one, and there are definitely some big changes happening around you.

The Fourth Industrial Revolution

Industry 4.0 is the world’s fourth industrial revolution. Like most of the industrial revolutions, there isn’t a precise start date, but a gradual acknowledgment that manufacturing has undergone significant changes and new trends have started. The term “Fourth Industrial Revolution” was first coined by a team of German scientists in 2015, and “Mastering the Fourth Industrial Revolution” was the 2016 theme of the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos-Klosters, Switzerland.

As for what Industry 4.0 is, it is the cyber-physical transformation of manufacturing, meaning it’s the next phase of digitization in the industry. According to Klaus Schwab’s article, this fourth industrial revolution is “characterized by a range of new technologies that are fusing the physical, digital and biological worlds, impacting all disciplines, economies and industries, and even challenging ideas about what it means to be human.”

What Does Industry 4.0 Mean to Manufacturing?

With Industry 4.0 in full swing, manufacturing has undergone some major and noticeable changes. 

Smart Technology in Manufacturing

The most obvious one is the technology that’s been woven into the process. Over the past decade, manufacturers have been integrating new technologies into their production facilities and throughout their operations. Most prominent are:

Basically, Industry 4.0 is the digital transformation of the manufacturing industry. More and more companies are implementing smart technology for real-time decision-making, enhanced productivity, flexibility and agility. This has revolutionized the way companies manufacture, improve and distribute their products.

Some have concerns about these advances in AI and robotics replacing humans on the floor. However, others have pointed out how Industry 4.0’s smart technology can make manufacturing safer, more accessible, and even create new jobs.

3D printing camera

Upskilling Workers

Industry 4.0 also focuses on ensuring their workers are properly equipped to work with the new technologies around them. Even as automation and machine learning becomes more common, skilled workers remain relevant with the right training. With the amount of skilled workers that are beginning to retire, and the way jobs are shifting and evolving, it’s essential that workers be retrained and upskilled.

Also, new workers should be taught skills that will allow them to quickly adapt to the evolving technology. The training you get through AMTEP is designed by industry experts and companies who benefit from employing a pre-trained workforce. This way, you’re getting taught relevant skills you’ll be using on the floor and that will benefit both you and your employer.

Industry 4.0 represents major changes for manufacturing. Advancements in technology and improvements for the workers could make this the most beneficial industrial revolution in history. Will you be part of it?