Comment: small steps towards Industry 4.0

“A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step” (Lao Tzu)

For all too many manufacturers the idea of embarking on the journey towards Industry 4.0 is more a giant leap of faith than a small first step towards a well-defined goal. And while the ancient Chinese sage may not be the ideal companion on that journey, his advice on how best to set out is well worth heeding.

The journey should begin, not with the idea of completing it one frenzied, exhausting sprint, but with a carefully constructed plan broken down into a controlled series of achievable and affordable steps. With a clear understanding of the terrain to be crossed, the hurdles and challenges to be overcome, and the realisable benefits to be gathered along the way, IR4 is thus transformed from a potentially expensive nightmare into affordable dream.

Well, you could do worse than come to the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre, or any of the other six high value manufacturing catapults dotted about the country.