Industry 4.0: The digital transformation of industries

Within KMØ, industrial digitalization is at the center of all discussions. No wonder, since it is our DNA, what identifies us best. An ecosystem of companies and players dedicated to innovation and digital technology who share a passion for shaping the future of Industry 4.0

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If the^4th industrial revolution, as it is commonly called, is now considered a strategic priority for most companies, what about in the industrial sector specifically ? Where are we and what are the stakes in undertaking such a transformation today ?

The context of Industry 4.0

Industry 4.0 is a continuation of the industrial revolution that began long ago, in the 18th century, when machines such as locomotives driven by water power or steam appeared.
It has continued to evolve since then, in several stages, with the arrival of electricity and then of digital and electronic sciences. To arrive nowadays at this new industry which asserts itself as being the convergence of the virtual world with the products and objects of the real world.

Today, there is no secret: you have to be able to adapt quickly and provide your customers with ever more efficient and customized solutions. In the industrial sector in particular, we are dealing with an increasingly competitive market. More and more technological solutions are being developed, bringing with them their share of innovations while proving to be extremely efficient. We can also observe a transformation of the commercial relationship and even of the modes of consumption which are in full mutation.

Wanting to adapt is good, but knowing how to do it intelligently is better.
Many companies don’t understand the issues involved in developing a strategy for their ecosystem and their needs. And then encounter difficulties in aligning their projects and results.

The challenges of the digital transformation of industries

The challenges of digital transformation are numerous, and depend on many criteria. They are specific to each actor and to each need.
That’s why it’s important for executives to assess their company’s needs, the expectations in terms of ROI precisely evaluated, as well as the use cases concerned and the number of users affected by these changes. Indeed, it is important for them to be made aware of the benefits of such a transformation and to be accompanied throughout the process.

They will need a plan and strategy to put the right tools in place in the most optimal way. This will allow them to observe unprecedented results, whether in terms of quality of work, unimaginable time savings or consolidated visibility over the entire industrial park.

For a manufacturer, the implementation of these new solutions will certainly bring him more flexibility and reactivity, which will allow him to produce more and more performing and varied products. This productivity gain, along with shorter delivery times and lower manufacturing costs, will result in increased profitability.

However, in order to see these results materialize, executives ready to transform through digital must understand that they will have to go through a business model redesign and become aware of the added value for their ecosystem, their customers, their subcontractors, and their partners.
They must also understand that they will be the first levers of this change within the company and that they will have to establish and develop a digital culture by accompanying their employees in this transformation.

Regardless of leadership bias in terms of change, it is necessary to Knowing that these will probably impact all or a large majority of the company’s departments. Digitalization is therefore a cross-functional issue, and it is up to them to entrust HR with the task of adapting this increase in skills and monitoring the teams. Continuous training of employees is emerging as a top priority in the transformation process.

65 % of industrial companies in France believe that they will obtain a return on investment in less than two years by implementing their digital transformation. (source Pwc)

What the digital transformation of industries encompasses

As we have seen previously, the changes brought about by digital affect the core business and the product offering itself, but also the business model of the company.

The possibilities are vast. Moreover, in industrialization, digital can be present at each level of the industrial chain (we speak ” of connected factory “). These include order reception, manufacturing, delivery and stock management.

The strategic decisions then concern the choice of the right software and tools that will allow the actors involved to be more autonomous and efficient while participating in the smooth running of the whole activity.

We can observe 4 major axes of digitization :

• The digitalization of tools, methods and work processes
  

This includes software such as ERP, CRM, business software packages, automata, analytical tools, etc., new technologies (advanced manufacturing) and the digitization of data in engineering (design of digital mock-ups, augmented reality, 3D printing, etc.) and production (integration of automata, robotics, etc.). !

The use of a mobile solution is also a good practice that allows, among other things, real-time reporting of interventions, the transmission of information to managers, an increase in security and quality of work and a consolidated visibility on the entire activity.

The implementation of a centralized information system seems necessary in order to have a shared knowledge and resource base available at all times for all stakeholders.
This allows for the decompartmentalization of interactions between the various departments and a better overall organization.

• The digitalization of industrial products

Today, there is a growing trend to design industrialized products and services in a way that collects and transmits consumer data, allowing companies to have a deep understanding of the customer. This is done with the help of connected objects for example.
Big Data is therefore a very important aspect to take into account. It may then be wise to opt for massive data storage capacity or data integration in the cloud.
This leads us to the digitalization of data.

• The digitization of data
  

In the current context of increased competition, companies are now focusing their performance much more on the quality of their products and services rather than on price competitiveness.

Big Data allows us to respond to this logic, because by collecting data, as we have seen above, it allows us to propose an even more personalized offer and to respond more to demand, and therefore to be more efficient.

• The digitalization of customer relations :

Optimize customer interaction channels regardless of the distribution channel and the players involved. This will allow us to build a more trusting relationship with our customers and to adapt to their requests in a more agile way by offering a more adapted and rapid response.

What service do you need ?

The companies present at KMØ are specialized in digital innovation and can accompany you in your digitalization, whatever your project.
You are bound to find a resident to guide you and implement solutions to your needs !

Discover them !