Ideas for evolving toward Industry 4.0

The challenge

The idea of evolving a company toward Industry 4.0 can feel overwhelming. Big Data, artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, virtual reality, cybersecurity: the list of related concepts is endless.

We know this transformation will be inevitable within the coming decades — or even years — and that we must be prepared as an organization to stay in the game. It is one more concern on top of the challenges the company faces every day.

Safe steps toward Industry 4.0

Ignoring the need to evolve would be a serious mistake, but resources cannot be devoted solely to experimental technology at the expense of today's business. What should we consider to strike that balance? Is there a way to advance with safe steps?

Although every organization's path will differ, some ideas serve as a guide: understand the process and its data first, prioritize the decision problems with the greatest impact, rely on models that represent the real business, and advance in measurable stages instead of big experimental bets. The original content accompanies these considerations with an Aleph5 video.