About Industry 3.0

Where many companies operate today

The third industrial revolution: This era witnessed the rise of electronics like never before, from computers to new technologies that enable the automation of industrial processes. Timeline of revolutions, Kimberly Ward, Manufacturing Data Summit 2019

The third industrial revolution started somewhere between 1947 and 1969 depending on if you count from the first working transistor, that in turn led to the first computers or Internets precursor ARPNET. Electronics, telecommunications and computers are the core, so-called programmable steering systems and robots are central. The military-industrial complex and the development of nuclear weapons also played an important role.

When researchers describe this third industrial revolution they usually summarise it with the word automation. The aim is to produce in greater quantity and in a more efficient way.

In this type of economy leadership was often concerned with effectiveness and management. Organisations were a machine and in more complex contexts matrix organisations were promoted as the ideal. All issues could in one way or another be solved in a traditional structure. The problem was often of a “tame” character and the analytical leader could, together with the organisation, solve most of these challenges.

Many companies, especially larger organisations still live in the third industrial era. Although more and more are trying to make the leap to Industry 4.0. Today perhaps 80% of companies are still in industry 3.0. Only a fraction can claim to belong to 5.0.