Smart industries that depend less and less on the input of human beings are already a reality in some countries, but they are still far from being the vast majority in operation.
If you’ve heard of Industry 4.0, you can imagine the challenges behind the concept, especially because it involves so much advanced technology.
And where is Brazil in this sense? Are we ready or are we moving too slowly to modernize the factories and generate effective results?
We will explore these and other questions and discuss digital transformation in Industry 4.0, understanding the scenario, challenges and, mainly, how to evolve in this current paradigm.
Enjoy!
The scenario of Industry 4.0 in Brazil
Despite being a much talked about concept by the market, the reality is that the Industry 4.0 scenario is not yet very advanced in our country.
This can be seen in a recent KPMG study, which found a low level of maturity —according to the 6 stages proposed by companies in conjunction with the National Academy of Sciences and Engineering (ACATECH).
Source: Educause
In this instance, and based on research with executives, Brazilian industry still struggles to position itself within the concept of Industry 3.0. Although the scanning process — the first stage presented in the image above — is satisfactory, companies lack in connectivity (stage 2) and also in later stages.
However, those surveyed also show a lot of hope and understanding that evolution is a matter of time, as companies around the world also share the same scenario and urgently wish to overcome it as soon as possible.
Given Brazil’s rapid grasp of technology, let’s learn about the main challenges of digital transformation in Industry 4.0.
Digital transformation in industry 4.0: the 3 main challenges of growth
It is true that companies that invest in some of the concepts of Industry 4.0 already reap surprising results. This is analyzed further in the two articles below:
- Alienation engineering and the ALIEN system: how LogAp developed a customized solution for CHESF
- Tailor-made software developed by LogAp: solution helps more than 213,000 rural workers
Such Industry 4.0 companies are, however, exceptions in Brazil, as there are 3 important challenges that hinder the evolution of the concept. Let’s check them:
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Lack of skilled labor
We already know that technology is one of the pillars of the 4.0 Industry. Based on this assumption, we can understand the first of the challenges of modernizing Brazilian industries, since the lack of professionals is a recurring theme both in the country and abroad.
Year after year, the news show that the abyss only widens. Whether in Industry 4.0 or outside of it, one of the biggest problems for countries to solve is attracting and retaining technology experts.
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Technical knowledge
Even when such professionals are found, there is still another challenge to overcome: the lack of technical knowledge in the area.
In this sense, we are talking about professionals trained to work with the main technologies in the area. Internet of Things, Big Data and Cloud Computing, for example, are universes lacking corresponding experts.
As such, companies need to find, retain and, in many cases, develop the professionals in order to be able to evolve, and this costs a lot of resources, as well as compromising the evolution of the industry.
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Access to new technologies
Finally, we have a challenge that goes beyond finding the right staff: limited access to new technologies.
At this stage, we see companies that cannot afford the latest technological innovations when it comes to state-of-the-art machines, software and equipment. Thus, the lack of access to new technologies also prevents companies from “surfing” the wave of Industry 4.0 as they should.
For the record, we list the main technologies used in Industry 4.0:
- Internet of Things (IoT)
- Big Data / Analytics
- Autonomous robotics
- Digital Simulation (Digital Twins)
- Cloud cComputing
- Cybersecurity
- Additive Manufacturing (3D Printing)
- Augmented Reality
- Integration (horizontal and vertical) of Systems
As made clear, the list is long and directly impacts the challenge of fully embracing Industry 4.0.
What is the simplest way to reverse the current scenario?
In many of the above cases, it is possible to implement Digital Transformation technologies in Industry 4.0 through software solutions (Big Data, Data Analytics, Cloud Computing) and IoT (sensors and alarms in the industry) to transform data into real assets.
In order for that to happen, it is necessary that experienced professionals execute the project from start to finish, understanding the needs, designing the scope and transforming them into practical solutions for day-to-day implementation.
On this note, LogAp has one of the most experienced teams in Brazil, with professionals who are able to work with companies and challenges of all sizes, always looking for tailored solutions to problem solving.
So, if technology is a problem for your company, be sure to contact us. Bring your challenge to us today!
