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

Industry 4.0 and IoT Events
- NEWS
- January 21, 2020
Visit events to discover the latest trends and network.
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IoT Signals Report
- NEWS
- January 20, 2020
Learn how the manufacturing industry is the leader in IoT adoption.
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Education for Industry 4.0
- NEWS
- January 16, 2020
A focus on current AI Education helping to drive Industry 4.0.
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Industry 4.0 Examples
- NEWS
- January 15, 2020
Read about some real Industry 4.0 usecases.
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Free eBook on Industry 4.0 Around the World
- NEWS
- January 14, 2020
A digital journey for manufacturing industries around the World.
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Ireland Commits €23.5 million to Industry 4.0
- NEWS
- January 13, 2020
Read how the Irish Manufacturing Research Centre is supporting SMEs.
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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.