ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF INDUSTRY 4.

The fourth industrial revolution takes the automation of manufacturing processes to a new
level by introducing customized and flexible mass production technologies.

Industry 4.0 consists of smart devices that lead to better communication that enable these
devices to collect and exchange data and take corrective action if required. For instance, in an
assembly line if a machine disrupts at any point the line stops so as to freeze any upcoming flaw.1

Further, efficiency and productivity go hand in hand; higher the automation, higher the efficiency
which enhances the company’s profits. Moreover, IOT enhances customization as there’s no such
thing as a ‘one-size-fits all’ solution in today’s global supply chain.

Additive manufacturing provides great customization capabilities. They have great level of
customization property which are equipped to slowdowns the movement of parts throughout
the supply chain.

Costs play a vital role, despite industries 4.0 require huge initial investments, once the
intelligence is built into products and processes, the costs will cutback. Moreover, less defected
products mean less loss of money and material.

However, there is other side of the coin and challenges of the industrial internet of things.3

 Security - It is one of the major concern in this fourth revolution. The online integration
could give room to information leaks. That’s why research in security is crucial.
 Unemployment - In every industry, there are innumerable workers in every department
and automation would definitely reduce the manpower.
 Talent acquisition - For adoption of IIOT, It requires training the staff to adopt this 4th
industrial revolution which requires considerable time as well as investment.
 Capital - Such transformation will require a huge capital in a new technology that doesn’t
sound cheap. The decision to make such transformation will have to be on CEO level. 2
 Cannot perform complicated or non-repetitive tasks - Even though machines offer
increases in quality and redundancy, current automation technology has been unable to
address the issue of complex production.

CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES IN AVIATION

In the last decade, major changes have been accompanied in the field of aerospace companies
that included various changes such as predictive maintenance4 being the key soul occurring in
the field of aviation.

Predictive maintenance is at a break through level in terms of aerospace since it is helping to save
millions of dollars per year according to the Thomson Reuters. In Germany, this process is being
undertaken by Siemens with the need to see the ongoing trend that is helping in indicating the
product life cycles of the equipment which enables the company to make major repairs before
major’s issue if prevailed. Rolls-Royce being the first company that has accepted this
methodology but using sensors and IoT to proactively detect the problems before their actual
realization.

In 2015, Bombardier revealed a jet liner C-series engine that was manufactured by Pratt and
Whitney featuring the engine that had over 5000 sensors5 relaying 10 Gb data per second. Data
being the most vital factor in the IoT emphasizing the need of sensors and enhancing the security
leading a more reliable aircraft system.

Apart from this, there is a great hike in in-flight entertainment and connectivity with a current
estimate of market around 3.13 billion USD and that has been increasing immensely every year.6
The greater the traceability, the greater it helps to facilitate the compliance and helps in
eliminating which accounts to deliver better quality product.

General Electric’s aircraft engine uses onboard sensor in the jet engines to capture real time data
analysing engines performance. The amount of data that gets produced in the process helps GE
to boost the engine efficiency, shorten travel time and reduction in fuel costs.
Fly-by-wire is a system that has been a part of aerospace industry for decades. It has become
advanced in so many ways that airplanes have transformed into virtually autonomous vehicles
which does not require any input by the pilot and can operate automatically.
INDUSTRY 4.0: TECHNOLOGY OF FUTURE

The fourth industrial revolution is a massive transformation that industry is going to experience
in the coming decade. However, the industrial revolution will be challenging, and the World
Economic Forum warns industry 4.0 about millions of jobs being lost, leading disruptions not only
to traditional business models but to labor markets over the next five years.7

The various economic effects of smart industry could be high investments in equipment’s by
companies and in the structure increasing the material costs of the company with the sudden
shift in the occupations and skills. The internet of things with automation might be a great boon
to the industry but indirectly losing many jobs by automated and IT controlled process.
Industry 4.0 will no doubt experience digital transformation, but do we have an appropriate IT
infrastructure and human resources to accomplish the industrial revolution?8 Research and
development will play a key role in deciding these parameters and the first step would be to
analyze the current scenario of the system, identifying the cause of improvement in various
business segments such as purchasing, production with consideration to marketing.

However, looking on the positive impact of industry 4.0 including sensors, machines and IT
systems will be connected along with the value chain beyond a single enterprise. These cyber
physical systems are connected which can interact with each another using standard Internet-
based protocols and analyzing data collected using data basis to predict failure, configure
themselves. Industrial revolution will make it possible to gather and analyze data across
machines, enabling faster, more flexible, and more efficient processes to produce higher-quality
goods at reduced costs.9

The fourth revolution brings numerous challenges which offer an instinctive opportunity for
businesses throughout the world to radically transform the efficiency of organisations with
continuous innovations and creative activities must be aligned with an increasing complexity in
the entire production control system across all economic sectors.

In a nutshell, “Humans must adapt to collaborate with machines, and when that collaboration
happens, the end result is stronger”.10
 1. REFERENCES

[1] “RF Wireless World.” Industry 4.0 Advantages | Industry 4.0 Disadvantages, RF Wireless
World 2012, www.rfwireless-world.com/Terminology/Advantages-and-Disadvantages-of-
Industry-4.html.

[2] Martin. “Industry 4.0: Definition, Design Principles, Challenges, and the Future.” Cleverism, 2018
CLEVERISM, 8 Jan. 2017, www.cleverism.com/industry-4-0/.

[3] Ammc, and About AMMC. “Automating for the Industrial Industry.” AMMC, 30 Jan. 2017,
ammc.com/advantages-and-disadvantages-of-automating-for-the-industrial-industry/.

[4] Edelen, Michael. “How IoT Enhances Aerospace Predictive Maintenance.” Digitalist Magazine, Digitalist
Magazine, 20 Dec. 2017, www.digitalistmag.com/iot/2017/12/20/iot-enhances-aerospace-predictive-
maintenance-05620651.

[5] “How Internet of Things Is Revolutionizing Aerospace and Aviation Industry.” IOT Salon, 31 Oct. 2017,
iot.salon/2017/10/19/internet-things-revolutionizing-aerospace-aviation-industry/.

[6] “In-Flight Entertainment And Connectivity (IFEC).” In-Flight Entertainment & Connectivity (IFEC) Market
Report, 2024, www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/in-flight-entertainment-connectivity-ifec-
market.

[7] Schlaepfer, Ralf C., and Markus Koch. DELOITTE.

www2.deloitte.com/content/dam/Deloitte/ch/Documents/manufacturing/ch-en-manufacturing-industry-4-
0-24102014.pdf.

[8] Wolter, Marc Ingo. Industry 4.0 and the Consequences for Labour Market and Economy.
doku.iab.de/forschungsbericht/2015/fb0815_en.pdf.
[9] “Industry 4.0: The Future of Productivity and Growth in Manufacturing Industries.” Https://Www.bcg.com,
9 Apr. 2015,
www.bcg.com/publications/2015/engineered_products_project_business_industry_4_future_productivity_g
rowth_manufacturing_industries.aspx.

[10] “Making the Internet of Everything Work for Your Clients.” Decisyon Whitepaper: Making the Internet of
Everything Work for Your Clients, decisyon.com/ioe/.