Welcome to Industry 4.0 - the future is already here

We can no longer afford to ignore the rise of automation and digitalisation and should embrace their transformative effect

Faced with an environment in which customers expect rapid turnaround of high-quality products and prototypes, the manufacturing industry is currently in the midst of a significant digital transformation.

The factory floor is undergoing a revolution as more manufacturers embrace Industry 4.0, a term popularly used to describe the increased use of web-connected industrial processes, and which employs robotics, software and advanced automation for greater productivity, quality and efficiency.

According to a government-commissioned review published in 2017, unlocking the value associated with Industry 4.0 could see the British manufacturing sector boosted by a net gain of around 175,000 highly-skilled, well-paid jobs, delivering additional revenue of up to £455bn over the next ten years.

The findings of a recent survey by Protolabs suggest, however, that a high proportion of senior decision-makers from a wide range of businesses - including manufacturers - don't acknowledge the role that digitisation now plays in manufacturing, or recognise the benefits that automation and digital technology can offer.

Manufacturing technology and processes continue to evolve and develop, offering a wealth of new opportunities and business benefits. Despite this, only one in ten of our survey's respondents reported seeing any association between manufacturing and Industry 4.0, with one in five believing that the sector was unprepared for what it entails.

Embracing the benefits of digital technology

It may not all be doom and gloom, however, as manufacturing businesses actually appear to be embracing the benefits of digital technology and automation to a greater extent than any other industry right now. By employing cutting edge manufacturing technologies such as rapid injection moulding, CNC machining and metal 3D printing, for example, manufacturers are able to produce components and parts in as little as a single day from a CAD design being submitted.

Regardless of such advances, however, the industry faces something of an issue with its general image, with many organisations holding an outdated view of manufacturing as neither digital-savvy nor high-tech. Indeed, our survey revealed that around a quarter of senior business decision-makers in the UK still associated the sector with legacy terms such as ‘assembly lines' and ‘manual labour'.

What's more, contrary to the growing number of headlines espousing automation and robotics as being an integral part of the industry's future, whether for good or for ill, a quarter of the businesses we surveyed said they'd expect to see little or no increase in the use of automation in their own manufacturing services over the next five years. Frankly, views such as this are only likely to hinder the ability of UK businesses to compete in a fast-moving global market as, by overlooking automation, many organisations may miss out on potential cost and time savings.

There is some hope though, with a number of businesses believing that, by investing in the right technology, the industry can enjoy a brighter future. According to around half of the survey's respondents, greater investment in R&D is required to help the UK maintain its position in the global manufacturing market, while a third suggested a greater focus on attracting STEM graduates to the industry would help develop fresh talent and bolster future growth.

An industry powered by innovation

Industry 4.0 is happening now. The face of the manufacturing industry is being transformed by the growth of digitalisation, and many business are enjoying the benefits offered by automation and digital technologies. Instead of shying away from it, more businesses should be welcoming what is, essentially, a force for good.

Our survey suggests a limited understanding of Industry 4.0, however, along with the impact it's already had, and how it's set to shape the industry in the future. A worrying perception persists of the industry as being largely labour-intensive manual work when it should, in fact, be seen as an increasingly high-tech, digitally-enabled industry, capable of making a significant positive contribution to the country's economy.

In reality, the industry is powered by innovation, and driven by highly-skilled engineers, employing advanced digital technologies and automation to deliver high-quality production-ready parts at previously impossible speeds and volumes.

Any business not currently embracing automation should consider how automating their processes could help deliver both long-term time and cost savings and, how by not doing so, they may find themselves at a competitive disadvantage.

We can no longer afford to ignore the rise of automation and digitalisation but should, instead consider their transformative effect, the benefits they offer. Businesses must acknowledge that the future of manufacturing, Industry 4.0, is here and is set to have a significant impact on the sector and on the wider UK economy. The revolution is underway.

Stephen Dyson is head of Industry 4.0 at Protolabs