Two of the most popular buzzwords floating around today are Industry 4.0 and the Internet of Things (IOT). But what exactly do these mean, and how do they relate to compressed air systems & industrial manufacturing? Let’s find out!
Industry 4.0 is a term that describes using automation and data exchange within the manufacturing sector – specifically in the context of creating a “smart factory.” A smart factory is a space that is both highly connected & highly digitalized, using a consistent steam of data from humans, machines, & systems to communicate, coordinate, and monitor manufacturing processes. Essentially, the 4.0 factory digitally connects people, machines, and systems to the production process!
The Internet of Things (IOT) is a key element of Industry 4.0, involving the digital integration and connection of equipment. Once the equipment is connected to a larger system, it’s then able to send and receive data via an internet connection. Keep in mind that the Internet of Things doesn’t exclusively refer to a machine being connected to the internet; it also refers to the interconnection of machines & equipment. IOT, then, can be viewed as the massive network of connected & interconnected “things.”
The focus on creating a digitally-connected smart factory is informing all stages of the design, manufacturing, monitoring, and managing of compressed air products. Three specific examples of how the compressed air industry is adapting to this new way of doing things include:
As Industry 4.0 and the Internet of Things continue to cement themselves as foundational concepts in the manufacturing industry, we should think to the future – a future that may include the transformation of compressed air systems into autonomous cyber physical systems.
Download our Industry 4.0 and Compressed Air Technology whitepaper here! You can also check out all of our air optimization products by visiting www.atlasocopco.com/air-usa.