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The Industry 4.0 Revolution for CNC Machine Shops

The Fourth Industrial Revolution is full upon us. The advance of the digital world to interface with the physical world can be seen in CNC manufacturing with robotics, the first use of the Internet of Things (IoT), and 3D printing. The global pandemic has accelerated this even more. People cannot connect in person and, although this may be difficult for some, those who embrace the Industry 4.0 Revolution for CNC machine shops see the world as their marketplace. The means digital transformation is necessary to stay relevant and competitive.

 

What is Industry 4.0?

Spanning only a few hundred years, we have changed lifestyle and business through three previous revolutions. The first, the introduction of machinery and fossil fuels alleviated our reliance on animals and manpower for agriculture and ushered us into manufacturing. That led to the second revolution with new forms of power generation and widespread distribution of electricity around the world. The third revolution, only a little more than fifty years ago was the first light step into technology with computers and communication.

The fourth revolution is still relatively fresh, but advancing quickly. Just as the second revolution expanded on power, the fourth revolution is developing new ways for us to interface with technology. The leap from technology working for us has shifted towards a symbiotic relationship between man and machine.

 

Advances for CNC Machining

We have been utilizing autonomous machines and intelligent technology for some time in manufacturing. In the shop, Industry 4.0 looks like CAD/CAM systems that not only run machines but aid in design with features like mapping smarter toolpaths for greater efficiency and reduced tool wear. Further shop features include quality control, metrics, and lights-out manufacturing. See our blog on Machining with IoT for a full review of intelligent software running machine shops.

Off the shop floor, the IoT (Internet of Things) should not be ignored as it is changing sales and marketing for CNC machine shops as well. Email is no longer the most effective tool for client communication, and global clients (or the pandemic) don’t allow for in-person meetings. Besides metrology, robotics, and digital tool management, is your connectivity passing through to your sales team to assist with sales, quotations, and client relations? Clients often expect quotations within 24 hours so the connectivity to shop processes is imperative for the front office. The internet can bring the client into your shop for a virtual tour, a simulation, or to see the metrics of their production run. Embrace cloud-based reporting to share data with clients or prospective clients, or aid with accurate quotation preparation. Utilize digital designs to demonstrate a concept or sell a tooling feature by accessing virtual files from anywhere. Augmented Reality may become your next key sales tool to keep real-time communication with your client for increased engagement.

Growing artificial intelligence and other new technology options can also be utilized to provide information about your market, your potential client, and the changing world around you. The beauty of the digital world is that information travels in all directions.

 

Challenges for CNC Machining

The current struggle for CNC machine shops is the speed at which the manufacturing world is changing. People are still a necessary and important factor in IoT and the management and application of the information available. They need to keep up with training. And new problems of storage and security are a few new challenges manufacturers will face. Moving fully into an IoT business model presents a current unique set of problems:

  •         Client Expectations
  •         Information Security
  •         Cloud Storage Strategy
  •         Remote Staff
  •         Flexibility & Scalability
  •         Work Gap Issues
  •         Capital Investment

Venturing into intelligent software can start small, with heat sensors for example. It isn’t recommended to make sweeping changes at once due to the learning curve, various communication sequences required, and the fast-changing marketplace. But the best time to get started is now. Establish quality partners that can grow with your business. Customer experience is also growing in this area. The best extension of grace for your learning curve will be now, before the time when seamless digital experiences become the standard.

 

With the global pandemic creating change in healthcare, corporate structure, manufacturing, and virtually everything we do, this is the time to embrace change for small and mid-sized manufacturers. The hardest time to consider investing in your business is when production is slower, but this is the best time to be ready for a new world on the other side with the Industry 4.0 Revolution for CNC machine shops. The new world post-pandemic will see smart technology as the standard with remote staff, virtual client relations, and autonomous production and reporting.