Abstract
In the manufacturing industry, the smart factory is considered the final stage of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Manufacturing companies are pursuing breakthroughs by introducing various advanced technologies to ensure their competitiveness. However, it is difficult for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to adopt smart-factory technologies, owing to financial and technical burdens. This paper proposes a smart factory that can be applied technically and strategically to the introduction of a smart factory for SMEs. The concept of an ‘appropriate smart factory’ involves applying appropriate measures in terms of cost and scale with consideration of the situations faced by SMEs. The goal is to build a smart factory that has necessary functions (Essential) but can be easily operated (Simple) at a low cost (Affordable) and has compatibility (Interoperable). This paper presents technical application measures such as appropriate smart sensors, appropriate IoT (Internet of Things), and small data processing, along with the definition of an appropriate smart factory. In addition, a case study was examined where the quality inspection equipment for garment manufacturing SMEs was developed by applying the appropriate smart factory concept.
Highlights
In the era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, global manufacturers are striving to gain competitive advantages by applying cutting-edge technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT), robotics, artificial intelligence (AI), Big Data, and cyber-physical systems [1, 2]
While further studies on the sewing environment should be performed to improve the system, the results indicated that systems that conform to the appropriate smart factory concept can satisfy the requirements of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)
Appropriate smart factories should apply the ‘EASI’ method to minimise financial and technical burdens that SMEs face in adopting smart factories
Summary
In the era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, global manufacturers are striving to gain competitive advantages by applying cutting-edge technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT), robotics, artificial intelligence (AI), Big Data, and cyber-physical systems [1, 2]. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) face many difficulties in realising such smart factories. Some SMEs have strong global competitiveness based on advanced technology, most of SMEs have weaker business-oriented financial structures and technical capabilities than large companies. Such financial and technical constraints hinder the adoption of smart factories by the SMEs. Figure 1 shows the survey results for the difficulties of smart-factory promotion among Korean companies [16]. While SMEs have cited financial burdens and lack of technology as the most significant obstacles for adopting smart factories, large enterprises are more concerned with the lack of Big Data. SMEs require an adoption strategy that is consistent with their circumstances and the purpose of introducing smart factories [17]
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