JULY/AUGUST 2019 THE INTERVIEW
ensure a common language is
being spoken and the machine
conversations make sense.
This requires certain
standards: for example,
defining a standard control
architecture RAMI
considering the IT hierarchy,
control structures and
production lifecycle. We also
need a standard template
for structuring and enabling
information to be passed
between devices, machines and
solutions in an open, readable
but secure way OPC-UA.
Many of us can see the amazing
potential of Digital Twins –
but again we need a uniform
way of describing our physical
products in the virtual world.
There are some
excellent proposals for
standardisation, but the
adaptation of frameworks
like AutomationML (and
its adoption by the diverse
providers and users of
the technology) requires
consideration of the natural
conflicts. For example, is it
better to gather a high quantity
of excellent data but accept
compromises to speed? What
type and depth of data is right
for everyone? In total, the
“We are only four years into
a proposed 20-year journey”
Steve Sands, product manager, Festo
working groups identified more than 20 technology
areas that would need to be addressed. Being
pragmatic, they decided not to attempt to redraw
more than 1,000 new standards that may or may
not gain wide acceptance, but to seek to create
alignment and extension of existing standards that
would enable the vision to be achieved faster and
more securely.
MM: So how long will this ‘revolution’
actually take?
SS: The Industry 4.0 roadmap defined an
incredibly fast 20-year revolution stretching from
2015 to 2035. This was reconfirmed in the latest
edition of the Roadmap V3.0 published in March
2018. So, we are actually only four years into a
proposed 20-year journey – and we are actually
making a lot of progress.
There are some excellent demonstrators of
Industry 4.0 technologies working now. There
are many more examples of the excellent use
of digitalisation, cloud-based technologies, Big
Data gathering, visualisation and analysis using
extremely clever predictive and AI.
To maintain the momentum, UK manufacturing
needs to be clear about what it is looking for in
terms of deliverables, have a good understanding
of the key terminologies and appreciate the
timescales involved – it won’t happen overnight!
promulgated by those who won’t
believe in change until they
see it. To use a railway analogy,
you can’t expect to travel on a
high-speed train while the rail
standards are still being worked
out! That said, Industry 4.0 is
definitely laying down some
tracks. There are already well
defined case studies, and a good
starting point for information
is the Aspects of the Research
Roadmap in Application
Scenarios paper, (available at
www.plattform-i40.de).
While it is still early for
the development of an entire
manufacturing facility based
on Industry 4.0 principles,
many leading manufacturers
have already put many of
the technology elements
into lighthouse factories or
applications. They are reaping
the early benefits, as well as
being able to visualise and share
the vision.
MM: What is happening to
deliver Industry 4.0 now?
SS: A fundamental requirement,
identified at the outset, is the
need for common standards.
To enable the open exchange
of data and information,
terminology has to be in place to
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/www.plattform-i40.de)
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