MANUFACTURING 4.0
manufacturing , self-optimising production , smart response and automated inventory management are just some of the niche areas that have exploded in recent years .
These developments make the manufacturing space ripe for M & A , with the physical and digital worlds converging rapidly in front of us . Each individual merger and acquisition has a straightforward objective : proximity to the key data , which is likely the real value add to the customer . The ultimate goal is a complete vertical that enhances the solution for the customer . That ’ s exactly what Industry 4.0 can tap into .
It is relatively early , but business strategies have already changed vastly to accommodate these aims . First and foremost , data has become a central proposition for many companies . It ’ s no longer enough for firms to offer services or products — it ’ s the data that customers value .
As the value of data has become apparent , factories and industrial plants have evolved . Companies have embedded a whole solution for data capture , connectivity , interpretation and analysis — often
‘ A recent report from the UK think tank , Centre for Cities , indicated that a total of 3.6mn UK jobs could be replaced by machines ’
using artificial intelligence to learn from data , pre-empt issues and future-proof business practices . For example , using data , factories across the globe can now ‘ communicate ’ through their machines — and if an issue occurs in one factory , the other plants can learn from it before the same thing occurs at their location .
Judging by recent trends , manufacturing firms that own and exploit data have set themselves up for success in an increasingly competitive marketplace . For this reason , they are also most likely to be targets of M & A activity . In addition , being technologically driven makes them more aligned by design . By seeking to streamline their processes and becoming more efficient and cost effective ,
20 April 2018