Whether it's 1.0 or 4.0, the industry has a great story to tell, not as much as a James Cameron film, we agree, but we promise we've made it fun to read. So let yourself be swept up in the story of the industry as told by KEYPROD 🚀
Over the past few decades, the industry has seen significant developments with huge technological advancements like automation, robotics, and the Internet of Things (IoT). All these developments have led to the emergence of Industry 4.0, a new era of industrial production that uses advanced technologies to enhance efficiency, flexibility, and sustainability within factories. But before we got to know the industry as it is today, a lot happened that you might not be aware of.
So if you want to become an expert on the history of industry, you're in the right place!
The industry emerged in the 18th century in England with the steam engine and coal extraction, leading to new industries such as textiles and steelmaking, as well as the first steam-powered transport. The second industrial revolution (1870-1910) in Germany and the United States, driven by oil extraction and electricity, spurred the automotive industry, chemistry, and globalized trade.
During the 1950s, mass production dominated, pushing for improved efficiency and quality. The 1990s marked the third revolution with the advent of computing and automation by robots for repetitive tasks, increasing efficiency, quality, and safety. In the early 2000s, the Internet of Things (IoT) further revolutionized the real-time control of production processes, paving the way for Industry 4.0.
This latest revolution is a combination of the last three, each bringing expertise, increasingly profitable production processes, and significant innovations. It is through a mix of knowledge in mechanization, mass production, digital management, and robotics that the first connected, efficient, and autonomous factories emerged.
The concept of Industry 4.0 is based on the use of advanced technologies such as automation, robotics, the Internet of Things, augmented reality, artificial intelligence, and of course the analysis of all the data created along the way, in order to continuously improve the efficiency, flexibility, and sustainability of industrial production. This is how smart factories were born, which adapt more quickly to changes in market and customer needs while reducing costs and environmental impact.
These 4.0 factories are characterized by connected machines capable of communicating with each other, collecting data in real-time, and analyzing it to better understand equipment productivity and improve productivity processes. Today, it is also possible to more simply customize products to better meet customer needs by producing small quantities while maintaining minimal costs with programmable autonomous machines.
👉 Improve the efficiency and quality of production processes with smart factories that produce faster, qualitatively with real-time analyses.
👉 Reduce costs thanks to smart factories that automate their production, which has the effect of lowering labor costs. Maintenance also costs less thanks to real-time machine monitoring and thus early problem detection.
👉 Improve production flexibility as smart factories adapt better to demand changes by producing customized products and allowing companies to meet the needs of a larger majority of their customers.
👉 Minimize environmental impact with factories that significantly reduce energy consumption through optimized production processes with more efficient and better-used machines that reduce gas emissions and preserve natural resources.
In addition to the many advantages it offers, it presents challenges that must be taken into account for factories to evolve with their time and not become obsolete.
The first challenge to be faced is the training of workers who must be skilled enough to operate and maintain these smart machines. It is also necessary to be trained to work with these constantly evolving new technologies. Investment in training is essential to ensure good mastery and thus maximize processes.
The second challenge is an ethical question. These smart factories replace jobs held by humans, which raises concerns about job loss and the decline in the quality of life for workers. Companies must therefore take these issues into account and implement actions aimed at mitigating the negative effects of automation.
Finally, this requires a significant financial investment from companies to equip themselves with robotic machines but also complex systems for analyzing, automating, and understanding maintenance processes. The financial question can quickly become a brake for small companies. Yet practical solutions exist!
As you have understood, integrating into this new industry is a true sine qua non condition, which is why we have worked extensively to invent and offer THE solution that will help you become a key player in Industry 4.0 (We actually developed more than one... 😉).
KEYPROD, what is it? Imagine Shazam, but for your machines: our devices analyze vibrations and translate them into industrial performance indicators. Simple and effective, these Plug & Play devices use artificial intelligence and machine learning to optimize your production. Data is instantly available via our web application, allowing real-time monitoring.
Our solutions, KEYNETIC, KEYVIBE, and KEYPROD platform offer the following benefits:
➡️ Detailed analyses of production data in real-time
➡️ Identification of production losses, including downtime and operational times
➡️ Rapid return on investment
➡️ Ecological paperless solution
➡️ Quick installation in less than 10 minutes without interrupting production
➡️ Compatibility with all machines, regardless of their age or function
In short, your machine emits vibrations, and our job is to capture and transform them to give you the possibility of having ultra-precise production data to improve your productivity. Sounds tempting, doesn't it?
Thanks to our solutions, simplify your digitalization and increase your OEE by 10 to 15% from the first year. You will gain access to precise production analyses and can quickly identify the causes of machine stoppages.
We are committed to helping every industrial improve their production with a solution that adapts to all types of machines. This is how KEYPROD actively participates in this fourth industrial revolution by offering innovative, pragmatic, and high-tech solutions, integrated into the growth of this new industry!