The digitalization and virtualization of manufacturing is revolutionizing the way people make products. For this reason, Europe, represented by Germany, as well as the United States, intends to significantly increase industrial output. General Electric (GE) in the United States in the fall of 2012 put forward the "Industrial Internet" (Industrial Internet) concept, which is a concept of industrial equipment and IT integration, the goal is to through a combination of high-function equipment, low-cost sensors, the Internet, big data collection and analytics, etc. The goal is to dramatically improve the efficiency of existing industries and create new industries through the combination of highly functional equipment, low-cost sensors, the Internet, and big data collection and analysis technologies. Japanese companies are also promoting M2M and big data applications.
The general concept of Germany's "Industry 4.0" was put forward at the Hannover Messe 2011 held in Germany in 2011. At that time, Prof. Wolfgang Wahlstetter, Director and CEO of the German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence, mentioned in the opening ceremony that the fourth industrial revolution should be promoted through the medium of the Internet of Things and other means to improve the level of manufacturing. In the "High Technology Strategy 2020" launched by the German government, Industry 4.0 as one of the ten future projects, the coalition government invested 200 million euros, the purpose is to lay down Germany's international leading position in key technologies, consolidate the core competitiveness of Germany as a technological and economic powerhouse. 2 years later, in April 2013, organized the "Hannover Two years later, at the "Hannover Messe 2013" in April 2013, the German "Industry 4.0 Working Group", comprising experts from industry, government and academia, published its final report, "Securing the Future of German Manufacturing: A Report on the Implementation of the "Industry 4.0". Securing the Future of German Manufacturing: Recommendations for the Implementation of the "Industrie 4.0" Strategy" (German and English versions). In contrast to the third industrial revolution narrative popular in the United States, Germany defines the introduction of machine-building equipment in the 18th century as Industry 1.0, electrification at the beginning of the 20th century as 2.0, informatization, which began in the 1970s, as 3.0, and the Internet of Things and the servitization of manufacturing as announcing the arrival of the fourth industrial revolution.
The key in the concept of "Industry 4.0" is the integration of software, sensors and communication systems in so-called physical network systems. At this intersection of the virtual and real worlds, products are increasingly conceived, optimized, tested and designed. The "Industry 4.0" concept encompasses a fundamental paradigm shift from centralized control to decentralized augmented control, with the goal of creating a highly flexible production model for individualized and digitized products and services. In this model, traditional industry boundaries will disappear and a variety of new areas of activity and forms of cooperation will emerge. The process of creating new value is being transformed and the industrial chain division of labor will be reorganized.
The key technology of "Industry 4.0" is information and communication technology (ICT), specifically M2M (Machine to Machine), which involves automated coordination of work between networked devices, the use of big data obtained through the network, and the linkage with development/sales/ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning)/PLM (Enterprise Resource Management)/Platforms outside the production system. The automation of the third industrial revolution is only the automation of the third industrial revolution, which is the first step in the development of the third industrial revolution, and the automation of the third industrial revolution. Whereas the automation of the third industrial revolution only utilized ICT in the production process, "Industry 4.0" will dramatically expand the target audience.
"Industry 4.0" project is mainly divided into two major themes, one is the "smart factory", focusing on the study of intelligent production systems and processes, as well as the realization of networked distributed production facilities; the second is the "intelligent production", mainly related to the whole of the business system linkage, such as supply chain management. The second is "Smart Production", which mainly involves enterprise-wide production and logistics management, human-machine interaction, and the application of 3D technology in industrial production processes, etc. The program will pay special attention to attracting the participation of SMEs. The program will pay special attention to attracting the participation of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and seeks to make SMEs the users and beneficiaries of a new generation of intelligent production technologies, as well as the creators and suppliers of advanced industrial production technologies.
Germany's "Industry 4.0" plan emphasizes that the main elements of the future form of industrial production include: the mass production of highly personalized products under the conditions of a highly flexible allocation of factors of production, the extensive participation of customers and business partners in the business process and the process of value creation, as well as the integration of production and high-quality services, etc. The plan also emphasizes the importance of the Internet of Things, the service network and the data network. The Internet of Things (IoT), service networks, and data networks will replace traditional closed manufacturing systems as the basis for the industry of the future.
The German Association for Electrical, Electronic and Information Technology (DEEIT) said the key prerequisite for planning the interconnection and integration of factors of production, technology and industry within the framework of the program is the need for participants to agree on the technical standards and specifications involved in "Industry 4.0." According to the association, the world's first "Industry 4.0" standardization roadmap compiled by its subsidiary, the German Electrotechnical Commission (DEC), is an important step towards this goal, providing an overview and a planning basis for all participants to agree on existing relevant standards and specifications for "Industry 4.0". overview and planning basis for all participants on the existing relevant standards and specifications involved in "Industry 4.0".
The information is available online.