Pros And Cons Of Industry 4.0

What is Industry 4.0

Industry 4.0 is the integration of computerized systems and automation. With the latest developments in machine learning algorithms an ever-increasing number of manufacturing processes are being operated entirely by computers. These computers “learn” by sharing information between a network of sensors which is then interpreted to find the optimal solution. This in turn leads each robot to become more independent and make simple decisions by itself without the need for outside input therefore decentralizing manufacturing.
(Dominic)
(Source: Bernard Marr, What Everyone Must Know About Industry 4.0, Forbes, June 20, 2016)

Pros & Cons

Obstacles to Industry 4.0

While the prospective benefits of Industry 4.0 are undoubtedly

Transmitting data is an inherently power-intensive process, and so the amount of data sent, and the frequency, is tied to the longevity of battery life for a remote sensor. As battery life is extended as the technology improves, sending larger amounts of data will be more feasible. Existing networks are also a limiting factor for IoT technology as the amount of data that can be sent is limited by both the distance from a receiving point and the bandwidth of a network, which typically have a negative

While new jobs will undoubtedly be created based on the new requirements of a smart factory, many of the existing jobs will no longer be necessary, requiring existing employees to either reskill or lose their jobs. This will undoubtedly result in Union disputes as Industry 4.0 is implemented, stalling its progression.

Financial Costs

An obvious limitation to the implementation of Industry 4.0 is the cost. The development of a suitable AI, the acquisition of advanced IoT sensors and network infrastructure and the hiring of a new up to date workforce will all have significant costs, which may prove to be inhibitive to many companies introducing the system.

Discussion
(feedback appreciated, it might be a bit intense)
The underlying question with all of the AI and robots replacing jobs leaving ourselves in a situation similar to iRobot were computers do everything, from the timed destruction of a house, to a personal self-thinking robot for those who can afford it, where do the human jobs lie as this progresses forward. It’s a phenomenal technical advancement to see that Walmart is implementing robots to stack their shelves but is that 10 robots for 10 humans trade or maybe 9 because their needs to be a supervisor or do they complete the job of 30 humans, here lies the main