The fourth industrial revolution uses technology in all sectors of a factory to intelligently optimize its processes. With each passing year, the so-called industry 4.0 in Mexico has been growing a little more, however, it still has a lot to conquer.
Resources based on artificial intelligence, Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), robotics, nanotechnology, among others, make it possible to improve the industry's production processes. And, in addition to facilitating increased production, it is possible to optimize all stages, allowing for long-term savings.
In this article we will show you the main challenges facing industry 4.0 in Mexico, its applications and how the transformation process should begin.
What are the main challenges of industry 4.0 in Mexico?
La digital transformation of the industrial sector has become what we know today as industry 4.0.
In order to enjoy the benefits that the fourth industrial revolution brings to manufacturing, it is important to know the challenges that must be overcome before beginning the transformation process.
Make high investments
The economic value to be part of industry 4.0 is not low. Many times it is necessary to make high investments that were not included in any budget.
However, in the long term, much of this technology helps save inputs, produce more in less time and avoid waste or second quality in products, among other things.
With all this, it is possible to recover the investment and continue enjoying the benefits that the new machinery can bring to your industry.
Choose the right technologies
Choosing the most appropriate technologies is essential for the success of the transformation. It is essential to know what the business needs are so that the best alternatives can be chosen.
Each industry is unique and what may be useful in one may not be useful in another in the same sector, even if they have the same general characteristics.
For this reason, it is essential to carry out an analysis that allows us to identify the true needs and prioritize what is really required.
Establishing the current situation of the industry, defining the goals, understanding where you want to get to and in how much time is a priority before acquiring any technology. This is something that not everyone does and that can result in poorly made investments that do not bring the expected results.
Train human capital
Acquiring new technologies is not enough to obtain the expected results. Human capital is an essential factor for management success.
It is likely that much of the team does not understand all the benefits that technology can bring. However, it is important that they know that it is not only limited to increasing production, but will influence the entire process.
Training is essential, not only so that the team can understand the advantages, but also so that they learn to take advantage of everything that the new tools offer and use them safely.
When there is no adequate training, all the resources of the new machinery are not used. It can even cause demotivation for the professionals involved... something that, instead of benefiting the business, can harm it.
Create a future plan
As the benefits of Industry 4.0 implementation are realized, new optimizations should be considered. We live in a time when we cannot park. If you want to be part of the market today, technology has to go hand in hand with the industry.
The implementation of industry 4.0 allows us to achieve new objectives and this cannot stop, so the creation of a future plan is essential to continue development.
If there is no plan for the future, at some point decline will begin and the achievements achieved will become obsolete.
What are the applications of industry 4.0 in Mexico?
The fourth industrial revolution can be applied in all sectors of industry including, of course, manufacturing.
There are solutions for all types of production, whether textile, leather goods, plastic, paper and cardboard, metallurgy, wood processing, manufacturing of chemical, electrical, electronic products, among others.
All areas can benefit from industry 4.0. We can cite as an example textile production, which allows automating its processes from the evaluation of the raw material used the moment it arrives, to the machines that measure the shrinkage of the fabric in a few minutes.
Processes that manually take days, with the appropriate machinery can be carried out in just minutes. In addition to being faster, they are much more efficient, saving time, energy, water, space, labor and optimizing production quality.
On the other hand, in the consumer goods, food and beverage or automotive industry, knowing the state and bribration level of an engine that belongs to a production process involves carrying out inspection rounds by maintenance operators and the accumulation of documents that show the data captured from the rondin. With the implementation of industry 4.0, small and intelligent devices connected to the engine can constantly monitor these and other characteristics of the Engine and even take the captured data to an OnPrimes application or in the Cloud, allowing people, regardless of where they are, to can access information in real time, to visualize behavior and make timely decisions based on data captured directly from process control devices.
Just like the textile industry, all sectors can benefit from this flow by providing intelligence to their field of action.
When the industry transformation process is done well, the ROI obtained can be greater than thought. There is no doubt that there are many benefits that Industry 4.0 can bring to manufacturing in different areas. It is up to us to start taking advantage of them in a progressive and organized way.
How should industries begin the transformation process?
The first step to begin the transformation process is to become aware of the challenges that must be faced. Only in this way will it be possible to work to overcome them.
Start with a deep analysis of the current situation of the processes, prioritizing critical processes that can affect the business and combine with the needs of the industry. In this way, a clear panorama of the opportunities for improvement can be identified, to adopt the best alternatives when introducing the new 4.0 technology.
Then, it is essential to make a work plan to make the most of resources. It must clearly state how to involve and motivate workers in this project.
Entering industry 4.0 in Mexico is a great way to stay competitive in the market and grow by leaps and bounds.
If you think you are ready, then don't wait any longer and take the first step. If you still have doubts, tell us: what do you need to advance a little further and be part of industry 4.0? Contact a MES Automation expert advisor now.
Originally published on February 9, 2021, updated on August 22, 2023
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