Supply chain
Article by sandvik Coromant written by: Dieter Heimerdinger
To adopt Industry 4.0 We must look to the Lighthouses
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Lighthouses have been the key to maritime navigation for centuries, emitting light to guide sailors across treacherous seas. Recognised by the World Economic Forum (WEF), Lighthouse facilities can also act as a guiding light for the manufacturing industry, as it navigates the technologies of Industry 4.0. But what makes a Lighthouse factory, and what can other manufacturers learn from them? Here, Dieter Heimerdinger Vice President, Supply, Sandvik Coromant at high-tech engineering group Sandvik, explains.
To date, the WEF has identified 69 facilities across the globe as “Lighthouse Facilities”. The network has been selected from a survey of over 1,000 manufacturing sites, based on their success in adopting Industry 4.0 technologies. They represent a range of industries, such as automotive, additive manufacturing and consumer goods.
that make digitalisation seem hazardous. Contrary to concerns about skills gaps, the Lighthouse factories are not deploying IIoT technology to replace operators.
A McKinsey report suggests that less than five per cent of occupations consist of activities that are completely automatable, while over 60 per cent of occupations have at least one third of automatable tasks. ConseDescribed by WEF as “the world’s most advanced quently, employees in production enjoy a working factories, which are leading the way in the adoption routine that’s less repetitive, and more interesting, of Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies”, the diversified, and productive. recognition demonstrates a clear motive. For WEF, showcasing the 69 facilities as Lighthouses means An evaluation of the facilities has uncovered several they can show the way for the 70 per cent of companies other findings that demonstrate the value of implestuck in “pilot purgatory”. menting Industry 4.0. The facilities are more agile and showcase greater customer centricity across Just like maritime lighthouses shine light on danger at end-to-end manufacturing, and are quicker to resea, Lighthouse facilities are here to dispel the myths cognise shifts in customer preferences.
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