INDUSTRY 4.0

DEFINITION OF NEW REALITY

Industry 4.0 is a concept that defines the introduction of new business models, the digitisation of products and services as well as the implementation of new technical and organisational solutions in companies, integrating their value chain.

The implementation of new smart solutions is enabled by the key components of Industry 4.0: Cyber-Physical Systems, Internet of Things, Internet of Services, and Smart Factories. Driving the transformation are increasingly personalised customer needs and the growing trend of personalising products and services.

INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION 4.0

Industry 4.0, known as Industrial Revolution 4.0, began in 2013. However, the term “fourth revolution” was first used in 2011 at the Hannover Messe fair. In 2012, a group of specialists was formed in Germany to define the steps and principles for the future of factory automation. The result of the work was a report, presented in April 2013 at the Hannover Messe fairs. The report that initiated Industry 4.0 included information on:

smart factory

The experience of entrepreneurs in the development of Industry 4.0 results in the introduction and implementation of technological innovations in production and management to adapt to the growing demands of consumers. According to experts, smart factories are the most important element of the fourth industrial revolution next to the Internet of Things (allowing global access to data and machines). The idea of a smart factory is to get a product that meets individual expectations without large production costs.

A smart factory of the future is a place that is designed to match human expectations and needs. The modular smart factory concept uses the capabilities of the cloud that allow data to be managed anywhere and at any time. The data cloud allows factories to store and keep information, virtualise, as well as run analytics and calculation systems within the security of servers. A smart factory also includes advanced software for real-time data processing and analysis that enables effective presentation of results. New smart factory lines should be equipped with smart technology, i.e. sensors integrated with machines creating wireless data transfers. Cyber-physical systems are also an effective and functional solution for maintenance and mobile interfaces. Mechatronic and IT systems connect production lines, machines into global units. Autonomous systems, which are used to transport objects within a company, are a new solution to facilitate the production process. A smart factory also includes robots that create new robotic and autonomous production cells in collaboration with humans.

The essence of a smart factory as one of the most important elements of the fourth industrial revolution is the implementation of new technologies. They are designed to enable automation of manufacturing processes, improve efficiency, productivity, and reduce the cost of producing a product that meets growing customer expectations.

Industry 4.0 Przemysł 4.0
INDUSTRY 4.0 AT BASE GROUP

Base Group is committed to meeting the needs of our clients. To this end, as part of Industry 4.0, we periodically review new technologies that can be used in our processes. The quality and effectiveness improvement solutions introduced so far include:

Airport is a dedicated, proprietary system that we use for effective intra- and inter-departmental communication. The Airport app receives data from the ERP system. It systematises production orders and shows their status by appropriately sorting them, starting with those that should be executed first. Airport shows each employee the full list of orders being processed.

WeldEye is a dedicated welding process control and management program. Base Group was the first Polish company to implement this system to ensure the optimum quality of machinery, equipment and welded metal structures produced.