The Middle Market Manufacturer's Roadmap to Industry 4.0

What does Industry 4.0 mean for you? There is a lot of buzz about what the “next industrial revolution” looks like and the potential it holds, but the journey looks different for every organization, and so may the end destination. 

It’s very easy to look at General Electric’s transformation to “digital industrial” and say, just do what GE is doing. For the world’s largest manufacturers with billions in revenue, adopting GE’s digital transformation playbook may not be so farfetched. But for middle market firms—the heart and soul of the American manufacturing industry—revolutionary digitization can feel aspirational, not inspirational. Cutting-edge technologies like artificial intelligence, robotic process automation or in-line 3D printing might seem like distant dreams for manufacturers that are still focused on migrating to the cloud or just dipping their toes into shop floor automation.

However, stagnation is a death knell in today’s manufacturing environment. Technology, competition and shifting consumer expectations have changed the game, and middle market manufacturers can’t afford to sit back and watch how it’s going to play out. Manufacturers in China and India are investing in automation and innovation to better compete on a global scale and cater to growing customer demand for speed, convenience and customization. And Germany—where the term “Industrie 4.0” originated—has arguably leapfrogged the U.S. in manufacturing innovation. It shows: About a fourth of Germany’s GDP growth comes from its manufacturing sector, and they’ve lost only a small fraction of manufacturing jobs compared to peer industrialized nations.

It’s not time to bemoan the end of the U.S.’ manufacturing reign yet, though. The race to innovate is far from over—and reclaiming the crown may ultimately come down to the industry’s middle market. 

CONTINUE READING AND FIND OUT THE STEPPING STONES FOR JOINING THE RACE TO THE FUTURE.