Smart Factories and key technologies of Industry 4.0 (review)

Abstract

Subject. Industry 4.0 is an approach to manufacturing based on modern information and digital technologies which secure a higher level of production, promote efficient use of materials, reduce repetitive and hazardous jobs, and contribute to sustainable development. Despite extensive research related to Industry 4.0, there is still no single opinion regarding the terminology and technologies which characterise Industry 4.0 and their impact on modern manufacturing. These aspects prove the importance of the research. Objectives. The article considers the key Industry 4.0 technologies in terms of their impact on modern manufacturing, in particular in relation to Smart Factories. Understanding of the impact of Industry 4.0 technologies on manufacturing will also facilitate their strategic implementation aimed at achieving sustainability. Method. The authors used the method of analysis of works by Russian and international scientists dedicated to the studied issue, in particular comparative analysis of case studies and practical experience. They also used general scientific methods and methods of logical and comparative analysis. Results. The article summarises the results of published studies. The authors emphasise the importance of understanding the impact of Industry 4.0 technologies (as a single set) on modern manufacturing, the transition to Smart Factories, and sustainability in the economic, social, and environmental spheres due to increasingly efficient use of resources. The paper also considers key technologies that characterise Industry 4.0 and all together form the foundation for Smart Factories. It emphasises that when applied to manufacturing processes, a full-scale implementation of Industry 4.0 technologies makes manufacturing smart and adaptive. It also defines the cyber-physical system as an important element of Smart Factories. Results and discussion. The paper emphasises that an integrated implementation of Industry 4.0 technologies is a tool for digital and smart manufacturing that provides the manufacturer with valuable information about the product lifecycle, helps them implement new business models, and connects different manufacturing facilities and events with due account of the time horizon. Conclusions. It is important to study not only the effectiveness of introduced technologies in each individual case, but also to analyse the impact of Industry 4.0 technologies on manufacturing as a whole. The authors emphasise that the interaction of Industry 4.0 technologies contributes to the creation and development of a new production ecosystem, Smart Factories. They justify the need to identify potential barriers limiting the integration of Industry 4.0 technologies in the considered processes (in particular, the transition to Smart Factories is impossible if enterprises have not passed the stage of digitalisation. Therefore, it is important to create conditions that allow enterprises to reach the modern level of digital manufacturing).

Keywords

• sustainable development
• manufacturing
• strategic implementation
• key technologies
• cyber-physical system