Measurement Technology: Exploiting the Potential of Industry 4.0

It was 10 years ago that the research advisory committee to the German government used the term “Industry 4.0” for the fi rst time in public at the Hannover Trade Fair. Numerous solution approaches for the process industry have been developed since then. With its Industry 4.0 program, Endress+Hauser is working together as a technology pioneer with customers and partners to unleash this potential in the area of process instrumentation. What is already possible today in the food and beverage industry and where is this sector headed?

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Attributing the potential of a fourth industrial revolution to process informatics and the concept of cyber physical systems in advance was a bold step. If we analyze the history of the previous “revolutions”, what really stands out with the utilization of steam power for mechanization is that the efficiency of the technology determines its success. From the time it was invented (1698, steam pump, T. Savery), steam power required roughly 160 years to fully establish itself in industry and unlock its potential. Let’s take a closer look at the state of digitalization 10 years after the rise of the term Industry 4.0.

97 PERCENT OF THE DATA FROM THE FIELD REMAINS UNUSED

Depending on the size and the industry, a modern production operation has between 50 and 2,000 measuring points for measuring, controlling and automating its production processes and making them reliable. Apart from the actual measurement values, today these instruments can supply additional data and information, although analyses by Endress+Hauser show that up to 97 percent is still unused. This is where Endress+Hauser’s Industry 4.0 program comes into play, combining harmonized intelligent process sensors, cloud apps, interfaces and connectivity components and translating them into practical solutions. Especially relevant for the food and beverage industry are solutions for the plant overview, plant monitoring and mobile asset management.

SMART SENSORS ARE THE KEY TO INDUSTRY 4.0