{"id":132636,"date":"2020-04-02T16:06:14","date_gmt":"2020-04-02T15:06:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.sap.com\/uk\/?p=132636"},"modified":"2023-09-27T16:01:02","modified_gmt":"2023-09-27T15:01:02","slug":"what-is-the-future-for-industry-4-0-in-the-post-covid-19-paradigm","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news.sap.com\/uk\/2020\/04\/what-is-the-future-for-industry-4-0-in-the-post-covid-19-paradigm\/","title":{"rendered":"What Is The Future For Industry 4.0 In The Post Covid-19 Paradigm?"},"content":{"rendered":"

It is the 2 April, 2020 and the world is gripped by the Covid-19 pandemic. The global supply chain is experiencing a level of disruption that has never been seen before. Some manufacturers have ceased production completely, some have seen greatly reduced demand and others have seen a huge increase in demand. Every manufacturer is impacted by this crisis in some way and for many this poses an existential threat.<\/p>\n

Prior to the crisis, Industry 4.0<\/a> was an area of great interest to many manufacturers<\/a>. It was an exciting topic with huge potential benefits and was seen by many as a \u2018positive\u2019 and future thinking topic.<\/p>\n

Today, many of us are focussed on the here and now. Our health and the health of our family, friends and colleagues. The ability to access the food and supplies we need. Our job security. The financial impact on our employers, our clients and our partners. Beyond that we also have to consider the wider economic impact and the unknown amount of time it will take for things to return to some level of normality.<\/p>\n

At this point in time it seems insensitive and inappropriate to discuss Industry 4.0<\/a> in the way it was discussed pre crisis. The business drivers of Industry 4.0 pre crisis were focussed on competitive advantage, cost reduction, productivity, sustainability and innovation.<\/p>\n

The goal was to make well run businesses run better.<\/p>\n

The focus for many manufacturers now is survival first and foremost and then beyond that, damage limitation.<\/p>\n

The immediate financial impact on manufacturers is already resulting in a huge reduction in non-essential spending and investments. Many Industry 4.0 solutions currently being considered or being deployed fall into the category of non-essential business activities.<\/p>\n

This raises a few challenging questions that I have asked myself as someone dedicated to manufacturing and Industry 4.0:<\/p>\n

Is Industry 4.0 even a topic manufacturers should be thinking about?<\/p>\n

Is Industry 4.0 relevant anymore?<\/p>\n

If it is relevant, why is it relevant and what role does it have to play moving forward?<\/p>\n

The short answer is yes, I believe Industry 4.0 is not only as relevant as it was before, I believe it is actually far more relevant moving forward and I would like to explain why.<\/p>\n

The priorities for most manufacturers today fall into three distinct phases:<\/p>\n