Industry 4.0 – known as the fourth industrial revolution – is set to change the way the manufacturing sector operates in the coming years. More automation, data exchange and analysis and greater connectivity will result in massive changes. And this is going to have huge positive effects on the way companies operate – as well as the way they manage health and safety.
Industry 4.0 – known as the fourth industrial revolution – is set to change the way the manufacturing sector operates in the coming years. More automation, data exchange and analysis and greater connectivity will result in massive changes. And this is going to have huge positive effects on the way companies operate – as well as the way they manage health and safety.
The Internet of Things (IoT) – set to be one of the main drivers of Industry 4.0 – is going to be one of the most important developments the manufacturing industry will have seen. The IoT will deliver more connection between machines and systems, letting them communicate with one another. This can help you identify exactly what’s working, as well as what needs improvement. In turn, this then leads to gains in efficiency and productivity.
Essentially, you’re going to love what you’ll be able to do when Industry 4.0 is less of a novelty and more an everyday reality. But what exactly is it going to deliver for your organisation?
Improved productivity with Industry 4.0
According to accounting firm Sage, “Industry 4.0 connects embedded system production technology and smart production processes”. It will be “transformative to the manufacturing sector”, as it gives you the chance to better understand your processes and products. Industry 4.0 and its developments can also lead to a clearer understanding of how your customers use them. This makes it so much easier to apply the necessary tweaks to make them even better.
Sage further explains that Industry 4.0 allows you to collect real-time information across your whole supply chain. You can then analyse and use this data to improve your operations through instant feedback, increasing your company’s productivity. You’re going to be able to enhance your current operations with more autonomous systems.
Industry 4.0 will let you analyse patterns and gain new insights faster and more effectively. You’ll be able to identify opportunities to cut costs, speed up production or optimise logistics. And once you’ve done this, you know you’ll be on the way to more sales and happier customers.
It’ll also give you the ability to eliminate more errors. Once you can cut out the problems that cause hold-ups in your company’s production, you’re on track to boost efficiency. And this is true for health and safety too.
How Industry 4.0 affects health and safety
Safety may be a pretty overlooked aspect of Industry 4.0, but your company can really benefit from the increased machine learning, connections and automation. You’re bound to be looking for the most efficient way of protecting your staff members. This is definitely achievable with the developments we’re seeing in health and safety solutions.
Look at the way technology is being introduced into personal protective equipment to help protect against workplace injuries. Sensors are being woven into clothing to measure workers’ heart rates to make sure they’re in good health. Meanwhile, researchers have developed headgear that monitors brainwaves in case drivers are feeling drowsy at the wheel, potentially preventing accidents.
Although more robots will probably see better safety in manufacturing, there are no guarantees. And the basic regulations still have to be adhered to. This means you need to ensure you’re keeping your people safe. And gaining visibility over your risk management and safety helps you do exactly that.
Central location for safety management
But as automation takes hold and Industry 4.0 becomes just plain old ‘industry’, you still have to make sure you’re sticking to the rules. Risk assessments still have to be carried out, audits still need to be conducted and your business still has to train its people on how to effectively use the new tech deployed with Industry 4.0.
Having one central location to store all your data is one of the easiest ways of maintaining visibility over your company’s health and safety. It allows you to just access everything at the tap of a screen or click of a button – making safety management a whole lot easier.
Storing training records, viewing audits and risk assessments and keeping an eye on your organisation’s risk status is simple with Dynamic Risk Indicator. Give us a ring on 0161 967 1616 or just pop your details in the form below to chat about how we can simplify your business’ safety.