Regardless of which industrial internet or Industry 4.0 strategy companies chose, they can set out on their path to digitization and the application of digital concepts with three very pragmatic steps.
1. Give all things a nameGive all products and production materials a clear ID, for example, with a bar code and thus a unique name. Digitizing and connecting products and the value chain can only be made possible on the basis of clear identification. Data can be collected and a complete digital internal description of products and product components may then be introduced. This fosters efficient inventory and supply chain management.
2. Measure, measure, measureMeasure all process and sensor data along the entire value chain in order to track the current state of products and production materials. Install sensors at multiple measuring points along production and on the products if they are not available already in order to get a comprehensive view. The availability of measuring data allows companies to improve processing times, increase the products’ quality and decrease process costs.
3. Connect and analyseConnect the clearly identified products with their digital specification, their production materials as well as their manufacturing process data. In addition, connect the different sources of data. Create the necessary communications and IT infrastructures in order to achieve connectivity and to be able to combine and analyse data — ideally in real time where possible. In doing so, you pave the way for the initial steps towards big data management. This will allow you to define measures to increase efficiency and optimise quality for your own company as well as for your value chain partners.