Understanding Industry 4.0 and Additive Manufacturing — Lesson 5

This lesson covers the final lecture of the course on metal additive manufacturing, focusing on Industry 4.0 and its integration with additive manufacturing. It introduces the concept of Industry 4.0, the four industrial revolutions the world has experienced, and the design principles of Industry 4.0. The lesson also discusses smart manufacturing, the Technology Readiness Level (TRL), and the future of additive manufacturing in the context of Industry 4.0. It provides examples of companies employing the concepts of Industry 4.0 and highlights the role of additive manufacturing in reducing the TRL level requirement for taking a product to market.

Video Highlights

00:20 - Introduction to the concept of Industry 4.0 and the four revolutions the world has been through
07:36 - Explanation of the design principles of Industry 4.0, including inter-operability, virtualization, decentralization, real-time capability, service orientation, and modularity
23:14 - Explanation of the concept of Technology Readiness Level (TRL) and how it is contracted using Industry 4.0
39:35 - Explanation of the concept of a virtual laboratory system in the context of Industry 4.0 and additive manufacturing

Key Takeaways

- Industry 4.0 represents the fourth industrial revolution, characterized by a shift from centrally controlled to decentralized production.
- The design principles of Industry 4.0 include inter-operability, virtualization, decentralization, real-time capability, service orientation, and modularity.
- Smart manufacturing aims to merge the digital and analogue worlds by building connectivity and coordination for enhanced processes.
- The Technology Readiness Level (TRL) is a measure of the maturity of a particular technology. Additive manufacturing can help lower the TRL level requirement for taking a product to market.
- Companies like General Electric, Airbus, and Siemens are employing the concepts of Industry 4.0 in their manufacturing processes.