Abstract
Understanding barriers to implementation of Industry 4.0 strategies is a first step to enable companies to begin to use and implement new technologies; using new technologies will allow mills to improve efficiency and stay relevant in the face of increasing international competition. This study uses a mail survey to gather insights regarding awareness of technologies within the US primary wood products industry as well as the barriers to using new technologies. Awareness of technologies is generally low, especially with respect to additive manufacturing, autonomous systems, and big data. Lack of skilled workers is the primary limiting factor to implementation of new technologies with other key factors being out-of-date facilities and unclear financial benefits. Existing expertise was highest in manufacturing process monitoring and data analysis, and lowest in robotics. Only a very small group of respondents have already implemented any form of robotics. Overall, only six respondents (6.7 %) have an Industry 4.0 strategy, while 77 % did not recognize the terms “Industry 4.0” or “Smart Manufacturing.” Results suggest considerable room for additional application of I4.0 technologies in the industry.
Highlights
Existing expertise was highest in manufacturing process monitoring and data analysis, and lowest in robotics
We are currently in the fourth industrial revolution based on cyber physical systems (Basl, 2017), including the use of artificial intelligence, robotics, and other new technologies
The four stages are: 1) secondary research using industry-focused trade journals, 2) interviews with key experts and representatives of equipment vendors to the industry, 3) an online survey serving as a pilot test of the questionnaire, and 4) a mail survey of primary wood products manufacturers in the U.S
Summary
Developments among a host of technologies in manufacturing are making possible advancements to a new era, often referred to as the fourth industrial revolution. The first industrial revolution was the mechanization and use of steam power in manufacturing, followed by mass production and the use of electricity (2nd), and flexible automation and the use of computers (3rd). We are currently in the fourth industrial revolution based on cyber physical systems (Basl, 2017), including the use of artificial intelligence, robotics, and other new technologies. In the wood products manufacturing sector, vision and sensing systems (e.g., 3D scanning of logs and lumber coupled with software to optimize yields), remote monitoring for preventive maintenance, and automation (e.g., for material handling, detecting and repairing defects in veneer, grading lumber, etc.) are increasingly commonplace in 21st century manufacturing operations.
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