THE INDUSTRY 4.0: REVOLUTION OR EVOLUTION?

THE INDUSTRY 4.0: REVOLUTION OR EVOLUTION?

In my previous article Digital Revolution: An overview, I mentioned having to approach Industry 4.0 separately because of the divergence of opinion between those who see it as an evolution and those who consider it more of a revolution.

What Is The Fourth Industrial Revolution?

The Fourth Industrial Revolution, also called Industry 4.0 or 4IR, is characterized by the massive use of Information & Communication Technologies (ICTs) in the Industry.

The concept was coined in 2016 by the founder and Executive Chairman of the World Economic ForumKlaus Schwab.

Klaus claims: "Now a Fourth Industrial Revolution is building on the Third, the digital revolution that has been occurring since the middle of the last century.He also suggests "there are three reasons why today's transformations represent not merely a prolongation of the Third Industrial Revolution but rather the arrival of a fourth and distinct one".

"Velocityscope, and systems impact (of the 4IR) is evolving at an exponential rather than a linear pace. Moreover, it is disrupting almost every industry in every country. And the breadth and depth of these changes herald the transformation of entire systems of productionmanagement, and governance". Klaus says.


Technologies that shape Industry 4.0

The evidence is becoming more apparent that we are moving into an age of smart interconnected materials and intelligent automation machines. It includes 3d printing, new forms of machine intelligence robotics, the Internet of things (IoT), augmented and mixed reality, nanotechnology, and technologies such as blockchain, big data, and cloud computing.

Connected machines and objects offer a great potential of 4IR. For instance, statistics clearly show that the number of connected devices in use is estimated to reach 75 billion by 2025.

Data obtained from these physical devices are then used to get better insights and outputs through machine learning and artificial intelligence.

These technologies came with the promise of a bright and advanced future that prevails for all humanity. In other words, as machines become more intelligent, society will also grow and become more innovative.

For Instance, using robots or 3D printed models in the medical field to plan surgery better, or using predictive analytics to early identifying diseases and significant world challenges like climate change.

Impact on Society

The Fourth Industrial Revolution will be more profound than any prior period of human history, or as Klaus comments: "The speed of current breakthroughs has no historical precedent." 

4IR is likely not specific to a country or Industry. Instead, it spreads globally and can impact all communities at different socialeducational, and economic development stages.

American author and Futurist Raymond Kurtz Vial says: "It is hard to think to any problem that a superintelligence could not either solve or at least help us solve such as disease, poverty, environmental destruction and unnecessary suffering of all kinds"

This transition from one age to another, the fourth Industrial Revolution, will transform our World to affect how we learn, work, move, and interact with one another and with machines. 

The Future Of Work

Talking about how Industry 4.0 would impact the future of Work from a positive or a negative perspective is not an easy task. However, there is no doubt that the rigid work mode has changed from 5 days, 40 hours a week, to more flexible work options.

On the first hand, people have more opportunities to work from home. They have more tools, resources, and opportunities to create their startups and building their own economy.

On the other hand, even some people may think that automation has stolen our jobs. But, on the contrary, automation and Artificial Intelligence have reduced complex tasks, allowing people to focus more on higher-value Work rather than wasting time on habitual and routine tasks. 

Additionally, according to FUJITSU global digital transformation survey, 68 business leaders believe that in the future, people and AI will collaborate to complete tasks.

With that in mind, we have to keep our eyes wide open on the future of Work in a more automated and industrial world. 

Ethics of Technology

From Kurt's files law of accelerating returns perspective, technological progress is moving ahead exponentially, especially in Information Technologies. This means today's best tools will help us build even better tools tomorrow, fueling this acceleration.

 Aubrey De Grey, one of the World's leading biomedical gerontologists, says he believes that thanks to imminent advances in technology. The first person to live up to age 1000 is likely alive today.

Even though some questions arise: Do we have to be enthusiasts or skeptics of such research? What are its limitations? Honestly, I think experts in the medical and related fields are better empowered to answer such questions.

Taking Action, And Taking It Now

The early adopters of digital technologies and Industry 4.0 have everything to gain to jump into the digital World. But, what about those who avoid change? Is there any risk for them becoming irrelevant or left behind?

Once again, How can we close the digital divide caused by the fourth industrial revolution, especially in countries that have poor infrastructures to support ICT?

In this article, we won't necessarily answer where we will find ourselves on the other side of this revolution. Still, it is crucial to have a better sense of what it may mean to us, our organizations, and society. None of us will be able to sit on the sidelines and watch it pass. 

Now, let's go back to the core question of this article: Is 4IR evolution or revolution?

The answer depends on which perspective do you see things. What is sure is the fact the four stages of technological development covered two hundred years, while Industry 4.0 emerged in the last two decades, which is earlier to give a concise and final point of view. 

This in no way, prevents us to anticipate and debate the most powerful technological revolution to date, to better guide the development toward outcomes that do more good than harm.


Additional Resources:

  • Klaus Shwab: (2016)

The Fourth Industrial Revolution: what it means, how to respond


TOUFIK -B

MISE EN RELATION D'AFFAIRE en Freelance

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Merci pour l'instructif partage

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