INDUSTRY 4.0 – A VIEWPOINT OF THE AUTOMOTIVE AND MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES

Since the end of the 18th century, several industrial revolutions have caused fundamental changes in the economy and society at large. In each case, they were triggered by new technologies or innovative organizational structures: hydro and steam power paved the way for mechanization, the general restructuring of work processes formed the basis for mass production and microelectronics helped to automate machinery and production plants.

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Today, we find ourselves at the beginning of the fourth industrial revolution. It is characterized by the extensive networking of human resources, machinery, resources and products. Up to now, it had been hard to imagine the high degree of autonomy in industrial processes that now exists. On the one hand, this development was driven by technologies that allow the communication among various real and virtual objects – including across continents. On the other hand, current market dynamics create a pressure that forces organizations to act. They need to cope with ever changing requirements – from commodity prices up to their customers’ expectations.

Flexibility has become the skill that makes the difference for these organizations. Industry 4.0 – the current buzzword that stands for the fourth industrial revolution – can significantly develop this skill and, thus, help to realize a noticeable competitive edge.

For instance, the high-tech association BITKOM anticipates an enormous potential and forecasts an additional added value of a total of EUR 78 million for the year 2025. However, how do companies in Germany view this topic and how do they prepare for the imminent revolution? The present study for which we surveyed 227 decision-makers from the automotive and manufacturing industries has the answers.

The most surprising result: The concept of Industry 4.0 was not generally known – a total of 24 % of the respondents were not familiar with this term, among the OEM as many as 34 %. 35 % of all respondents did not know whether their own company was dealing with this topic. At the same time, the study showed that many of the technologies and concepts that can be subsumed under Industry 4.0 are actually considered important and useful. But still: there is hardly any business organization that intends to make a commitment to this course of action. In the opinion of many decision-makers, the economic benefit is still too vague and the risks – think safety – are perceived as too high.

For Germany as a business and investment location, the real risk, however, lies in the reluctance of business organizations to give up their hesitant attitude. Dieter Kempf, BITKOM chairman, supported this when he said: “If we do not implement Industry 4.0, others certainly will. And if we wish to realize it, we will have to do so quickly, since our global competitors have been dealing with this topic for a while. So let us get going!“

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