After decades of development, digital tools have become increasingly integrated into People’s Daily life and business activities, everywhere. Today, nearly two-thirds of the world’s workforce (64%) telecommute. More than 3 million industrial robots automate repetitive, high-risk operations in factories worldwide. As communication becomes increasingly digital, 347.3 billion emails are sent every day.

 

In this era of digital explosion, our procurement, production, delivery and service are increasingly dependent on information technology. Whether in production operations, or in collaboration with customers, markets and the surrounding environment, industrial companies urgently need to enhance the digital literacy of their workforce and master the leading digital technology capabilities.

Schneider Electric believes there are four key steps companies can take to digitally transform and upgrade their business models while addressing broader challenges such as supply chain shortages and sustainability:

Since the information age, “data insights” have become perhaps the most valuable resource – contextualized data can provide highly actionable insights for professional decision makers to drive real optimization of the way they work. IDC predicts that by 2026, 30 percent of the Global 2000’s revenue will come from data, applications, and business initiatives shared with partners, industrial entities, and business networks. Digital information has become a new asset for enterprises.

Before tapping into this “digital workforce,” manufacturers need to first consider the relationship between “people” and “technology.” More and more employees are becoming digital natives, who can work as “data engineers” to drive, identify and even create processes that increase industrial efficiency and unlock new business opportunities, freeing them from repetitive tasks. At the same time, organizations must have clear and integrated data management to deliver high-value, reliable, and job-specific analytics and insights that benefit all employees, helping them perform at their best and achieve business goals more easily and productively.

The second step: the use of advanced technology to achieve intelligence

Artificial intelligence (AI) technology, as an important technology for mining digital value, can not only help industrial enterprises optimize their processes and products, but also enhance their competitive position. At present, cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence technology are injecting new momentum into industrial development.

Predictive maintenance, for example, allows you to predict whether a process state is likely to fail in the future and initiate the actions needed to avoid failure. As a cutting-edge technology in the industry, predictive maintenance solutions are largely aided by artificial intelligence and machine learning (ML). With predictive maintenance solutions, manufacturers can reduce equipment downtime, increase productivity, and minimize overhead costs.

Another technique is the “digital twin”. It is predicted that by 2025, 80% of participants in the industrial ecosystem will share data and insights about their products, assets and processes with other participants through digital twins. With the help of data and artificial intelligence technologies, digital twins can digitally simulate physical assets, factories or processes. Operators can plan, simulate and verify the twin systems to determine the possible impact on production. With this technology, enterprises can effectively carry out efficient and effective optimization measures.

 

 

Schneider Electric EcoStruxure Machine Expert Digital Twin software

 

Step 3: Embrace open automation

 

Now is the time to unlock the potential of interoperability in industry. Historically, the industrial world has largely followed proprietary architectures and applications. But with the increasing importance of software, interoperability between components is no longer out of reach.

 

Open automation relies on “plug and play” components based on the IEC 61499 standard to ensure multi-vendor interoperability and seamless connectivity throughout the supply chain. From suppliers to Oems to end users, they can share an open automation software layer in their respective technology ecosystems, enabling unprecedented performance improvements. By joining the Open Automation Organization UAO (UniversalAutomation.org) to create interoperable solutions, anyone can work together to drive sustainable and lasting positive change in the industry.

 

 

Schneider Electric’s EcoStruxure open automation platform based on IEC 61499 standard

 

Step 4: Firmly green and sustainable development

 

Perhaps the most challenging problem of the moment is the sustainable development issue facing manufacturing and process industries. The data show that industry still accounts for almost 40% of total global energy consumption and nearly one-third (32%) of global carbon emissions from the industrial sector. This means we urgently need to adopt innovative technologies to reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.

 

Schneider Electric believes that energy, automation and software are important factors in achieving industrial sustainability, and many industrial companies have proven that sustainable operations can effectively drive business success to a large extent. In terms of promoting green and sustainable development, digital and simulation software can visually manage the use of electricity, water, materials and equipment to optimize manufacturing processes and effectively improve energy efficiency.

 

In the face of the rising tide of digitalization, as well as the growing challenges of climate change and energy, companies need to ensure that industrial transformation is driven in a systematic, digital, data-driven and interoperable way. As a global expert in digital transformation in energy management and automation, Schneider Electric will leverage its industry expertise and extensive experience in sustainability to continuously improve open, software-centric industrial automation and enable more partners to achieve new breakthroughs in all aspects of operations and innovation. Work together towards a sustainable, open, efficient & resilient, human-centered industry of the future.