Big data and analytics-utilizes the Internet of Things to capture, analyze, and store data on every stage of production, from design through production.Internet of Things-uses sensor technology to connect the entire manufacturing ecosystem with real-time communication and data from interconnected machines and devices, tracking operational performance.The following technologies are typically considered key components of Industry 4.0: This is confirmed by a 2016 McKinsey and Company study that showed Industry 4.0 factories are better at designing and manufacturing individualized products than traditional factories. Companies that can rapidly adapt production lines to exploit consumer trends are more likely to have implemented Industry 4.0. Unfortunately, traditional manufacturing methods are designed for mass production, not customization. Millennials, for example, are a rapidly growing population that expects tailored products that match their personal preferences.īrands that offer personalized products typically enjoy a 50 percent higher loyalty rate. This allows them to make higher-quality products more efficiently and react more quickly to shifting consumer demands, building customer loyalty and gaining market share. Not only do engineers need to redesign processes and operations to accommodate these new advances, Industry 4.0 impacts how they design products for increasingly smart manufacturing facilities.Īs Industry 4.0 takes hold, forward-thinking engineers will embrace these digital tools and technologies. Industry 4.0-the combination of digital processes such as the Internet of Things, automation, robotics, and additive manufacturing-has a disruptive impact on mechanical engineering design.