INDUSTRY 4.0
TECHNOLOGY
for me , my goods and the execution within my supply chain ,” he continues .
This vast amount of information brings with it a separate issue and a new challenge that Kaltenbrunner has identified : “ We have so many big data sources available to us these days that the problem now is there ’ s almost too much information out there . The challenge these days is making a call on what is important and what is just noise .”
This naturally leads on to another topic of discussion that Kaltenbrunner feels is crucial : supply chain visibility . “ Everything has become more dynamic and more real time . We ’ re more active than we were in the past . When things did or didn ’ t show up it was almost a surprise , because there was little visibility around potential disruption . That is something we can now anticipate and then , where necessary , take counter measures .”
INDUSTRY 4.0
As a business strategy , Industry 4.0 will enable flexibility and agility with the digital supply chain and Kaltenbrunner has some very concrete thoughts on what this will mean in the future and how it will work . “ For example , imagine
“ We have more information and data points available to us than ever before . New technology , like machine learning and AI , has come into play ”
– Hans-Georg Kaltenbrunner , VP Industry Strategy for Manufacturing , EMEA , JDA Software
a piece of metal that will eventually turn into a car body or a part of a car body . That piece of metal has the capability , via a small identifying device , to negotiate its way through the factory and find the operation centre that can do the job required . The piece of metal will tell a robot , ‘ I ’ m becoming a Vauxhall model XYZ , for example , therefore you have to do this or that operation to me ,’” he tells us .
36 April 2018