A horror scenario is haunting the minds of many people: In Industry 4.0, machines take over people’s jobs. But how does Industry 4.0 really affect our work?

What is Industry 4.0?

The term Industry 4.0. refers to a project to network machines and processes with the help of artificial intelligence. The Industry 4.0 is also often referred to as the fourth industrial revolution. Information and communication technology is also used in this process. This results in more and more advantages for industry:

  • During the manufacturing of a product, the entire process can be observed through digital networking. This makes it easier for companies to better coordinate individual steps. In addition, the utilization of machines can be better controlled.

  • In addition, companies can improve their productivity and profitability, which means that individual products can also be produced at fair prices.

  • The customer is also moving further into the foreground in Industry 4.0. Individual customer wishes, such as a self-designed shoe, can be produced quickly and easily. This opens up many unique solutions for customers.

  • A further advantage of the networked systems is the subsequent delivery of materials. If a system reports a low stock level, the intelligent systems automatically reorder the goods.

This is often referred to as the smart factory. The Smart Factory refers to a production environment that organizes itself. Man no longer needs to intervene in many areas of production. The term digital factory is often used as a synonym.

Cloud services as a driver of Industry 4.0

Cloud computing is considered a key driver of industry 4.0. Many German companies are currently requesting external IT infrastructures in order to have sufficient storage capacity and computing power even at high capacity and peak loads. Cloud computing is hardly imaginable without it. This is particularly evident in the example of smart factories. These can no longer be served by static IT or server solutions due to their individual data sources. This is because the constantly growing volumes of big data can hardly be processed in this way, let alone evaluated ad hoc. However, this is essential for successful production processes. Cloud computing therefore represents the basic technology of Industry 4.0.

The modern working world of Industry 4.0

The use of a cloud also has a positive impact on the modern working world and work organization. One example is that individual production parts know “who they are” and how the machines have to process them. Since each product carries the crucial information with it, several variants of a product can be produced.

Another example is provided by the data-intensive automotive industry. A wide variety of simulations generate a lot of technical data that must be evaluated quickly. Cloud resources help to accelerate data analysis. Many companies make use of the public cloud for this purpose. However, many IT specialists are critical of the public cloud because of its security. One alternative is the private cloud from TeamDrive. Which cloud form is right for them must be decided individually by the company IT department based on the application.

Industry 4.0 – Are the machines taking over?

If we read these examples, the question inevitably arises: Will machines replace humans? No! The fourth industrial revolution is in full swing. Man continues to play a leading role in this. He continues to work hand in hand with the new technologies, and with some advantages:

  1. flexible division of labour

Since the worker no longer needs to be present at all times during production, the result is a more flexible division of labour. This enables him to reconcile family and career better. Many recruiters also advertise the advantage of the work-life balance.

  1. goodbye to monotony

In Industry 4.0, every employee is a leader. He is responsible for his own tasks and the robots that go with them. In a manner of speaking, he manages the infrastructure of his entire networked department.

  1. increasing creativity

Work in industry is becoming increasingly varied and creative. Monotonous work processes are a thing of the past. While the machines carry out these work processes, the employees can exchange new ideas.

The challenge: data protection

Due to the processing of personal data in Industry 4.0, data protection is not an easy matter. In Industry 4.0, data is often processed that generates a conclusion about e.g. employees or customers. For the most part, this is also intended so that individual profiles can be created. Data protection requires companies to take organizational and technical measures to protect this data in the best possible way. Since much of the data of Industry 4.0 companies is located in the cloud, it is important to choose a cloud provider that complies with data protection regulations. Here TeamDrive is the best solution for you!

The fourth industrial revolution with TeamDrive, in conformity with data protection

To comply with the GDPR, your cloud must have a server location in the EU. With the server location in Germany, TeamDrive fulfills this regulation 100 percent. TeamDrive also relies on secure end-to-end encryption. This ensures that nobody can access your data without authorization. In addition, the risk of unauthorized persons taking control and causing damage can be minimized. This is also certified by the EuroPriSe seal of approval. The confidentiality of your data is thus guaranteed.

The future is Industry 4.0

The fourth industrial revolution is not a movement that will replace people in their work. On the contrary: machines will support people and give them more time for other tasks and creativity. In order to exploit this potential, companies are in particular demand. They must carefully introduce their employees to the new working world. Due to the rising daily flood of Big Data, the importance of cloud computing in Industry 4.0 will also continue to grow.