Industry 4.0
How AI makes furnaces energy efficient through data analysis A
s the Fourth Industrial Revolution gains momentum, the glass sector is taking advantage of modern technologies. One of the most promising use cases of digital services today is the energy savings from furnaces. Industry 4.0 has succeeded by creating new operating systems designed to manage and optimise businesses. Like previous industrial revolutions, this one is transforming the way people work and use technology. Ultimately, this will lead to the modernisation of entire companies. However, there is still a discrepancy in the pace of adoption between different manufacturers and different industries. While some are well advanced in digital transformation, many are not aware of the full potential of such technologies. Some factories argue that they are not ready because they perceive that they have a lack of resources and a limited
understanding of the impact on various stakeholders. However, for all levels of on-site digitisation maturity and progress, there is a solution available to meet the needs. An important aspect of Industry 4.0 is that it is not about replacing machines and equipment, but about leveraging software and exploiting captured data to make industries more efficient. Delaying the Fourth Industrial Revolution transformation will no longer be a viable option in the glass industry. If you wish to remain competitive, you must embark on this journey. Energy efficiency starts by leveraging the underlying data inside the plant The new centrepiece is your data. Data is the asset that in many cases is the most unknown and yet most promising one. Data inside companies can be described as an iceberg floating on water: only a
small portion can be seen. And of the seen portion, only a fraction is used. The water around the iceberg is the potential of data that can be created. Data strategy is the process of using and producing more relevant and useful data, aggregating them, increasing your assets, and thus opening more opportunities. A significant amount of data comes from various glass processes, furnaces, IS machines, lehrs, etc. Smart management of such data could make machines and processes more efficient. To successfully implement these new technologies, several obstacles must be overcome: the lack of time, digital strategy, resources, and domain knowledge. Companies like JoonX can help define and implement this strategy. Digital service suppliers should be independent actors who are Continued>>
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Sylvain Leroy* discusses how the glass sector is already taking advantage of digital technologies and which can lead to up to 3% savings on furnace energy consumption.
31 Glass International May 2021
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17/05/2021 06:38:11
