In the history of industry, many changes have occurred progressively, but some of them have led to a significant discontinuity with the past, to the extent that they are referred to as "Industrial Revolutions."
In the modern era, specifically, four industrial revolutions are historically recognized, each of which brought about significant changes in the mode of production and consequently in the socio-economic system of its time.
Let's briefly examine the revolutions that have occurred in the history of industry and the corresponding enabling technologies:
1. First Industrial Revolution: Steam Engines
Occurred in the second half of the 18th century, it revolutionized the mode of production with the introduction of steam-powered machines capable of automating manufacturing processes that were previously done manually.
2. Second Industrial Revolution: Electricity, Industrial Chemistry, and Mass Production
Took place at the end of the 1800s, witnessing the introduction of electricity, petroleum, and chemical products into production systems. At the beginning of the 20th century, Taylorism emerged with the scientific organization of labor, paving the way for mass production.
3. Third Industrial Revolution:Electronics, Information Technology, and Flexible Production
Witnessed the massive introduction of electronics, telecommunications, and information technology into the industry, starting in the 1970s. Simultaneously, the model of flexible production developed, thanks to the use of reprogrammable machines and processing cells. The most famous expression of this era was the Toyota Production System, laying the foundation for Lean Production.
4. Fourth Industrial Revolution: Smart factories, cyber-physical systems, Internet of Things (IoT), cloud computing, artificial intelligence
Still ongoing, the fourth industrial revolution arises with the widespread dissemination of interconnected systems and the use of new technologies for data processing and analysis.
There are several technologies that are particularly changing the current industrial landscape:
Cyber-Physical Systems: This involves the tight integration between hardware and software systems (interconnection). Once realized, it allows for:
- Transmission of information to machines
- Reading of operational data from these machines
- Execution of process simulations
For example, Real Comm, within the HyperPLANT suite, provides the HyperCONN and HyperGWAY modules for the interconnection of machines, whether they are inherently "Industry 5.0" compliant or not.
Cloud Technologies: Cloud computing, edge computing, and fog computing are technologies that enable the offsite deployment and on-demand access to computer systems, providing advantages in terms of economies of scale and maintenance costs. They can be categorized into various types based on the degree of offsite deployment:
- Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS): The customer accesses, on demand, a hardware and network infrastructure, providing scalability in the usage and availability of physical resources. For example, Real Comm offers dedicated cloud services within its Green Data Center.
- Platform as a Service (PaaS): In this case, in addition to the physical and network infrastructure, a software platform is provided, typically configured based on usage needs (hosting websites, servers and databases, application development, etc.). This is the case, for example, with the web hosting and mail server services offered by Real Comm.
- Software as a Service (SaaS): In this case, it is possible to access applications in the cloud that are already configured for use by the end user. This is the case, for example, with the HyperPLANT suite, which includes various modules.
Internet of Things (IoT) and Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT):
The term used to describe the increasingly widespread and pervasive availability of connectivity to the Internet, corporate networks, and applications, which devices (both industrial and non-industrial) make available to users, enabling the collection and transmission of data and information among different systems and devices, is known as the Internet of Things (IoT) in the context of Industry 5.0.
3D Printing and Additive Manufacturing:
Additive manufacturing and 3D printing technologies have revolutionized numerous industrial sectors, from construction to healthcare, enabling the rapid prototyping of products and the creation of potentially complex models.
Data Analysis Technologies and Artificial Intelligence:
Another current trend is the increasingly widespread adoption of techniques and tools for the storage and processing of ever-growing amounts of data (Big Data). In particular, the following are the main groups of technologies that have become prevalent in the last 20 years:
- Data Mining: This involves families of algorithms for data analysis implemented to extract information and knowledge from large datasets. These algorithms can be used for market analysis, process analysis, and the identification of statistical phenomena such as correlations and predictive analytics.
- Data Warehousing and Business Intelligence: Data warehousing refers to the set of technologies used to create a data warehouse, which is a centralized information repository that draws from multiple data sources. This data warehouse is primarily used to feed Business Intelligence tools, allowing for interactive data exploration sessions (On-Line Analytical Processing - OLAP).
- Artificial Intelligence
Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality:
Software and applications for virtual and augmented reality are used to support field operators, transmit complex information, and create advanced three-dimensional renderings or visualizations.
Servitization and Product Transformation:
The term "servitization" refers to the trend among manufacturers to integrate the offering of physical products with various types of services, often in digital form (applications, internet connectivity, websites, etc.). A common example can be found in the automotive sector, with the widespread integration of applications for connectivity and multimedia management. It is also evident in the industrial sector, where manufacturers offer integrated production support software along with machine tools. It is crucial not to underestimate these transformations in product offerings, as they can represent added value for the customer and the company, ultimately becoming a competitive success factor for strategic product positioning.
Autonomous and Collaborative Robots:
Thanks to advancements in control systems, sensors, and human-machine interaction, there has been an evolution in the fields of autonomous robotics (production robots) as well as collaborative robots (co-bots). Collaborative robots are machines capable of assisting and cooperating with humans during partially automatable manual operations (e.g., assembly), sometimes incorporating various degrees of machine learning. Naturally, these machines exhibit characteristics of connectivity typical of Industry 5.0.
All the technologies mentioned above have the potential to transform traditional businesses into true Smart Factories, contributing to the competitive success of a company in the market. Simultaneously, they foster process and product innovation while enhancing internal efficiency.
If you wish to delve deeper into topics related to Industry 5.0, we invite you to visit our blog or explore the related pages:
- National Industry 5.0 Plan
- HyperPLANT, Real Comm's solution for Industry 5.0, is inherently designed for the interconnection of production machinery, thus meeting the requirements of the National Industry 5.0 Plan regulations. It offers advanced features for production organization and a high degree of customization.
- SmartMan, the web ERP software for complete company management, designed for Industry 5.0
- HyperSCHED: next-generation visual scheduler, intuitive and easy to use
- HyperMES: flexible and configurable system for detecting production activities
- Cloud Services offered by Real Comm
