S P OT L I G H T S M A RT E R FA C T O R I E S
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SMARTER FACTORIES When the German government published its policy paper on Industry 4.0 in 2013, there was a sense of excitement about the future at COPA-DATA. Stefan Reuther was in the room when terms such as IIoT and Smart Factory were being hotly debated. In conversation with IU, the Member of the Executive Board of COPA-DATA looks back at the hype – and reflects on where the journey could lead next. AUTHOR: ROBERT KOREC, PR & COMMUNICATIONS CONSULTANT
From the mid-2010s onwards, Industry 4.0 took off and generated considerable hype in many manufacturing industries. Concepts such as IIoT and the Smart Factory were discussed intensely in many companies. “Back then, these issues really gained momentum. Approaches such as modular automation or cyber-physical systems were not yet widespread,” recalls Stefan Reuther, Chief Sales and Services Officer and member of the COPA-DATA Executive Board. At that time, COPA-DATA was already very well positioned in this area. “Many of the things that were in the
papers back then, such as vertical integration, were already standard for us,” says Reuther. “Other topics such as artificial intelligence are only now coming to the forefront.” INDUSTRY 4.0 FOR ALL SYSTEMS? The hype and associated buzzwords can accelerate development by stimulating public discussion. In the 2010s, every system suddenly became an Industry 4.0 system. “Suddenly everyone jumped onboard,” says Reuther. However, many companies are not even Industry-3.0-ready at present. The
foundation for Industry 4.0 is missing in many places. SOLUTIONS NOT SLIDES When Stefan Reuther speaks to international customers, new concepts such as Manufacturing-X are sometimes bandied about. He sees only a limited usefulness for such buzzwords. “People have heard enough of these new concepts and no longer want to see colorful slide presentations. Everyone simply asks: ‚How do I solve the issue?’” This is also COPA-DATA’s approach. Namely, to offer ready-made solution packages – from systems for
