Industry 4.0 SME – Helping Small to Medium Enterprises Improve Productivity

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The Industry 4.0 Revolution for SMEs

Most information about Industry 4.0 centres around use in large factories by large companies. In actual fact, the majority of companies in the World are small to medium in size.
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Understanding Productivity

'Productivity’ seems like a nebulous term. Can Industry 4.0 technologies, and indeed IT in general, increase productivity? Has there been any evidence for this in the past? Will newer technologies actually improve productivity?
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Industry 4.0 Benefits

Industry 4.0 is game changing. It provides a way to improve productivity, lower costs and help counter competition from mass production in low-wage economies.
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Industry 4.0 in Manufacturing and the Smart Factory

Industry 4.0 relies on the sensing and exchange of data to allow a factory to be quantified, adaptive and responsive. The aim is to maximise asset use, maintain quality, reduce costs and improve safety as well as sustainability.

News

A Digital Twin for the Water Industry
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- December 13, 2019
Insights on How to Plan for a Digital Twin.
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Up2Europe Projects and Calls
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- December 12, 2019
Take advantage of the Up2Europe network.
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DIVA Fostering Innovation in Projects Related to Agrofood, Forestry and the Environment
- NEWS
- December 11, 2019
€3 million available with up to €60k per Company.
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Drivers, Opportunities and Obstacles for Adopting Industry 4.0 for SMEs
- NEWS
- December 10, 2019
Insights from International Development Norway on the need to turn industry environmental challenges into business opportunities.
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SMARTY Launched to Help SMEs Adopt Industry 4.0
- NEWS
- December 9, 2019
New interregional cooperation project.
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New IoT Sensor Directory
- NEWS
- December 6, 2019
Select sensors by input sensing type and output wireless protocol.
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Technologies

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Strategies

Getting Started
There’s sometimes paralysis knowing where to start.
Industry 4.0 Implementation Tips
SMEs require low cost entry into Industry 4.0.
Create a Team
Establish a steering group team made up of staff across departments, stakeholders and suppliers.
Digitise Legacy Equipment
SMEs usually have a substantial investment in legacy equipment and existing software that need to be retained for financial reasons.
Consider Privacy and Data Ownership
Storing more data about people introduces extra legal implications.
Focus on What is Pertinent
With so many technology options it’s easy to get distracted.
Use Proof of Concepts
Try technologies to showcase value.
Define a Roadmap
Ensure you have one vision agreed with your team.
Avoid Siloed Data
SMEs must guard against becoming like large companies with siloed data.
Leverage Government Initiatives
Governments have a stake in the future of industrial manufacturing.
Consider Consumer Technology
Industrial hardware and software doesn’t always imply it’s better for SMEs.