Abstract
The 21st century has witnessed precipitous changes spanning from the way of life to the technologies that emerged. We have entered a nascent paradigm shift (industry 4.0) where science fictions have become science facts, and technology fusion is the main driver. Thus, ensuring that any advancement in technology reach and benefit all is the ideal opportunity for everyone. In this study, disruptive technologies of industry 4.0 were explored and quantified in terms of the number of their appearances in published literature. The study aimed at identifying industry 4.0 key technologies which have been ill-defined by previous researchers and to enumerate the required skills of industry 4.0. Comprehensive literature survey covering the field of engineering, production, and management was done in multidisciplinary databases: Google Scholar, Science Direct, Scopus, Sage, Taylor & Francis, and Emerald Insight. From the electronic survey, 35 disruptive technologies were quantified and 13 key technologies: Internet of Things, Big Data, 3D printing, Cloud computing, Autonomous robots, Virtual and Augmented reality, Cyber-physical system, Artificial intelligence, Smart sensors, Simulation, Nanotechnology, Drones, and Biotechnology were identified. Both technical and personal skills to be imparted into the human workforce for industry 4.0 were reported. The review identified the need to investigate the capability and the readiness of developing countries in adapting industry 4.0 in terms of the changes in the education systems and industrial manufacturing settings. This study proposes the need to address the integration of industry 4.0 concepts into the current education system.
Highlights
At present, industry 4.0 which differs in speed, scale, complexity, and transformative power as compared to the previous industrial revolutions can be considered as nascent [1]. erefore, having prior insight into the speed and measure of the changes being brought by industry 4.0 is a prerequisite for success [2, 3]
Industry 4.0 Definition. e term “Industry 4.0” was coined by German’s group of mechanical engineers in the year 2011 to account for the widespread integration and adaptation of Information and communication technology (ICT) in manufacturing industries [18]. e definition of industry 4.0 is ambiguous, and no single definition has been conventionally adopted. e Institute of Technology Assessment (ITA) [37] defined industry 4.0 as a systemic change bringing about extensive changes in the way works are done
It is stressed that industry 4.0 is not just about the introduction of a new technology linked with an incremental adaptation of work systems as in the previous three industrial revolutions, but about an assemblage of novel technologies and forms of application, with discrete degrees of technical maturity and systemic effects
Summary
Industry 4.0 which differs in speed, scale, complexity, and transformative power as compared to the previous industrial revolutions can be considered as nascent [1]. erefore, having prior insight into the speed and measure of the changes being brought by industry 4.0 is a prerequisite for success [2, 3]. Technological innovations have been considered as the main drivers for sustainable economic development and productivity growth [10, 11] They have been linked to changes in work and employment but this is not applicable to industry 4.0 [12]. Advancement in disruptive technologies and industrial developments has been incisive towards industry 4.0 [14], which is popularized with diametrically different names in various countries. It is publicized as Made in China 2025 by China [15], Industrial Internet Consortium (IIC) and Smart Manufacturing Leadership in USA, and Robot Revolution Initiative (RRI) and Industrial Value Chain Initiative (IVI) in Japan [16]
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