Implementing Smart Factory of Industrie 4.0: An Outlook

Abstract

With the application of Internet of Things and services to manufacturing, the fourth stage of industrialization, referred to as Industrie 4.0, is believed to be approaching. For Industrie 4.0 to come true, it is essential to implement the horizontal integration of inter-corporation value network, the end-to-end integration of engineering value chain, and the vertical integration of factory inside. In this paper, we focus on the vertical integration to implement flexible and reconfigurable smart factory. We first propose a brief framework that incorporates industrial wireless networks, cloud, and fixed or mobile terminals with smart artifacts such as machines, products, and conveyors. Then, we elaborate the operational mechanism from the perspective of control engineering, that is, the smart artifacts form a self-organized system which is assisted with the feedback and coordination blocks that are implemented on the cloud and based on the big data analytics. In addition, we outline the main technical features and beneficial outcomes and present a detailed design scheme. We conclude that the smart factory of Industrie 4.0 is achievable by extensively applying the existing enabling technologies while actively coping with the technical challenges.

The fit of Industry 4.0 applications in manufacturing logistics: a multiple case study

“…As described by Kagermann et al [1], Wang et al [6] and Brettel et al [7] Industry 4.0 consists of three main features. These are three types of integration, which are expected to be the reality in future production networks.…”

“…Wang et al [6] emphasizes the essentiality of vertically integrating the levels of the automation pyramid, from sensors and actuators on the shop floor, up through the Manufacturing Execution System (MES) and further up to the Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) level. This will enable a flexible and reconfigurable manufacturing system [6,7].…”

“…Wang et al [6] emphasizes the essentiality of vertically integrating the levels of the automation pyramid, from sensors and actuators on the shop floor, up through the Manufacturing Execution System (MES) and further up to the Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) level. This will enable a flexible and reconfigurable manufacturing system [6,7]. Such a vertical integration, with expanded utilization of planning tools, software and IT and digitalization of manufacturing has been stated as a requirement to ensure continued competitiveness for European manufacturing industry [8].…”

The Rise of Smart Factories in the Fourth Industrial Revolution and Its Impacts on the Textile Industry

“…Prior to the smart manufacturing of Industry 4.0, numerous other advanced manufacturing schemes have already been proposed for overcoming the drawbacks of the traditional production lines, for example, the flexible manufacturing and the agile manufacturing [3]. Industry 4.0 or the fourth industrial revolution has emerged as a result of technological improvements.…”

Hadoop MapReduce-based Process Anomaly Detection in Smart Factory

“…The smart factory concept involves connecting the entire factory to a network that creates a virtual world, which mirrors the conditions of the physical world, in order to optimize products as well as manufacturing process and control [1][2][3].…”