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Connect to Industry 4.0

Since their inception, terms like ‘Industry 4.0’, ‘smart factory’, and ‘factory of the future’ have promised manufacturers unprecedented boosts in efficiency and revenue. More than a decade later, however, the fourth industrial revolution’s potential remains largely untapped. Why? Because most companies are using ground-breaking technology to keep doing the same things. Our holistic approach and proven framework help you break the mold to identify real value opportunities.

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The making of an industrial revolution

What constitutes an ‘industrial revolution’? Contrary to popular belief, it’s not just about technological advancements, although we’ve seen plenty of those in the past few years – from automation and IoT to extended reality (XR), AI, quantum computing and blockchain. Looking at past industrial revolutions, we know that to be able to speak of a ‘real’ industrial revolution, these technologies must be used to entirely transform the way we work and live.

In terms of the way we work, we already know that Industry 4.0 technologies have the potential to increase the efficiency of manufacturing processes, e.g., via predictive maintenance or visual quality control. True transformation, however, is about using these technologies to make our operations more

sustainable, e.g., by reducing energy and water consumption and cutting waste;
human-centric, e.g., through safety monitoring, VR training and AI-driven operator assistance;
resilient, e.g., by investing in data-sharing and real-time visibility across the entire supply chain.

To also transform the way we live organizations need to rethink their entire business model in terms of

hyperpersonalization, e.g., a kitchen light in a customized size and color, or yoghurt produced to fit your exact diet, food allergies, and taste preferences;
servitization, e.g. light-as-a-service (or yoghurt-as-a-service);
transparency, e.g., by giving your customers full insights in components, origin, energy consumption and business ethics.

Only by considering such paradigm shifts, with a clear strategic direction in mind, can we move from an industrial evolution towards a real revolution.

The missing link: addressing the productivity gap

While every industrial revolution had a major impact on overall productivity, so far this has not been the case for Industry 4.0. The main reason? Most organizations that implement potentially paradigm-shifting technologies fail to look beyond improving their day-to-day operations.

To leverage Industry 4.0’s full value, companies need to combine technology, people, and processes in one holistic vision, and make it an integral part of their business strategy. At delaware, we’ve developed a tried-and-tested framework for end-to-end Industry 4.0 transformations – from vision and strategy to setting realistic objectives and KPIs, and identifying and implementing the right people-process-technology initiatives to reach them.

Industry 4.0 Masterclass

Learn everything there is to know about Industry 4.0 in this 3-day course, led by PhD researcher Alexander Naessens. Based on the latest academic and in-the-field insights, you will discover how to establish and Industry 4.0 strategy, architecture and roadmap and embark on your journey with confidence.

Custom Industry 4.0 Roadmap

The exact road to Industry 4.0 is different for every company. Forge your own path, with the help of our experts, and define and prioritize your next game-changing initiatives.