The Fourth Industrial Revolution
Module 3 - SLP
OPERATIONS TOOLS
Industry 4.0
The Fourth Industrial Revolution is “a new era that builds and extends the impact of digitization in new and unanticipated ways.”
Session Long Project 3 Resources
What is the Fourth Industrial Revolution? (2021)
https://iap(dot)unido(dot)org/articles/what-fourth-industrial-revolution
Industry 4.0: What Manufacturing Looks Like in the Digital Era (2022)
https://www(dot)visualcapitalist(dot)com/sp/industry-4-0-what-manufacturing-looks-like-in-the-digital-era/
Wondering how to start your Industry 4.0 transformation? (2022)
https://www(dot)chicagobusiness(dot)com/crains-content-studio/wondering-how-start-your-industry-40-transformation
Tackling the Zombies, and Other Industry 4.0 Adventures (2022)
https://www(dot)industryweek(dot)com/technology-and-iiot/systems-integration/article/21215016/tackling-the-zombies-and-other-industry-40-adventures
Five Lesser Discussed Ways Industry 4.0 Is Transforming The Factory Floor (2022)
https://www(dot)forbes(dot)com/sites/forbesbusinesscouncil/2022/01/28/five-lesser-discussed-ways-industry-40-is-transforming-the-factory-floor/?sh=1ba2452312df
SLP Assignment
A “White Paper” on Industry 4.0
Using the module’s readings and other research (not more than 3 years old), write a white paper on Industry 4.0 applications.
Background
Deliver a brief background of Industry 4.0 as it pertains to operations today. (1/2 page) Research Required.
Company Best Practices Example
Using the assigned Company, provide information on what it is doing to embrace Industry 4.0. (1 page) Research Required.
Applications
Offer reasons why companies should follow through on these practices. (1/2 page) Research Required.
No quotations are permitted in this paper. Each paragraph (except the introduction and conclusion) must contain at least one in-text citation.
Since you are engaging in research, cite in the body of the post and add a reference list in APA format. NOTE: failure to use research with accompanying in-text citations to support content will result in reduced scoring "Level 2-Developing" on the grading rubric.
The paper should be written in the third person; this means words like “I,” “we,” and “you” are not appropriate. Refer to yourself in third-person as “manager” or write about what the “project team” will do, rather than saying “I” and “we.”
SLP Assignment Expectations
Use the DATA AND SCENARIOS file and the APA-formatted template (OPM300 SLP3) to create your submission.
The template is set up in APA 7: double-spacing, font, margins, headings, page breaks, APA help links.
Your submission will include:
University’s cover page
A paper with APA citations (2- to 3-sentence introduction, 2-page body, 2- to 3-sentence conclusion)
The reference list page in APA format
Fourth Industrial Revolution
Student’s Name
Institution
Lecturer’s Name
Course Name and Number
Due Date
Fourth Industrial Revolution
Background
Globalization and competitiveness have influenced companies to rethink and modernize their production process using innovative technologies. These technologies have enabled manufacturers and suppliers to improve their organization's quality. It is because the industry is gradually transforming and evolving toward complete digitization to ensure high efficiency. The Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR or Industry 4.0) has been at the forefront of achieving this goal. Industry 4.0 is the emerging digital environment accompanied by new technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence (AI), Virtual Reality (VR), and cloud computing (Lavopa & Delera, 2021). These technologies have been integrated into manufacturing practices and are changing how companies manufacture, improve and distribute their products. They have resulted in increased automation, self-optimization of process improvements, predictive maintenance, high efficiencies, and customer responsiveness. Studies show that industry 4.0 follows the smart factory concept that facilitates human-machine integration through cyber-physical systems (CPS). Simply put, the 4IR is a new organizational level that controls and manages the entire value chain of personalized products to satisfy consumer needs.
Company Best Practices Example
ABB limited is a leading digital technology company that rejuvenates the transformation of industry and society to attain a more productive and sustainable future (BussinessWire, 2022). It offers products, systems, solutions, and services in various business areas ranging from electrification to robotics, automation, and motion portfolio (ABB Review, 2021). One way the company is embracing industry 4.0 is through robotics and automation. ABB limited uses robots to automate its processes. This technology offers solutions for the company’s logistics and drives automation in the construction industry (BussinessWire, 2022), addressing challenges such as the environmental impact of construction.
According to BussinessWire (2022), ABB is strategically positioned to support integration partners and end customers in the logistics industry with modular solutions, strong application knowledge, and a support network. Previously, many distribution centers compromised flexibility and accuracy. These challenges have been addressed through ABB automation, enhancing accurate order picking and efficiently handling the most complex pallet loads (BussinessWire, 2022). The use of robots in ABB limited has improved the company's overall productivity and saved the manufacturer's resources.
Another way ABB embraces industry 4.0 is by deploying an innovative cloud platform to connect electrical devices in an industrial internet facility. This deployment enables the company to offer solutions for secure and efficient energy distribution (ABB Review, 2021). New, intelligent compact circuit breakers use integrated connectivity to connect digital devices like tablets and smartphones with data analysis tools in the ABB Ability cloud platform in real-time (Water Magazine, 2023).
Another way is through IoT innovation for sustainability. ABB is committed to increasing sustainability by reducing carb...