SMART Manufacturing 4.0

Smart-Manufacturing-4.0-Colin's-Desk

Revolutions disrupt. They create opportunities and challenges — winners and losers. The fourth industrial revolution is no different, except for the technology involved — we are moving from digital to highly-connected, intelligent, cyber-physical, digital systems. Technology that automates and technology augments the human worker to elevate efficiency and productivity in all facilities. Technology that enables new processes and business models will spur a new age of manufacturing.

As key markets push forward with their Industry 4.0 initiatives, the ASEAN region faces an uphill challenge to stay competitive in this data-driven era. However, playing technological catch up is an integral part of achieving the full value potential that Industry 4.0 offers. As we cover in the following SMART Manufacturing 4.0 articles, the ASEAN region has the potential to thrive in this new age.

That ASEAN Industry 4.0 potential is core to our reasons for creating this column of articles, as are the many challenges that lie ahead. Southeast Asian governments and companies cannot rest on their previous successes or be content with regional status. Industry 4.0 disrupts the global manufacturing landscape, and automation threatens to shift production facilities back to major consumer markets, and those regions that do not evolve will be left behind. We hope insights will serve to guide readers from their various perspectives along with their Industry 4.0 journeys.

For ASEAN companies, we offer guidance on best practice and common pitfalls when implementing their digital transformation.

We analyse and compare the ambitious strategies for governments, associations, and industry organisations, promoting joint ASEAN development.

For international companies and investors exploring opportunities in ASEAN, we provide a complete picture of the region, market-by-market, in the context of major global trends.

And for the established and aspiring industrial engineers in the ASEAN region, we present the future.

This series of articles will take the readers through the concept of a revolution to demonstrate the scale of emerging trends. It shines a lens on pioneering European, Chinese, and North American models and considers how we in ASEAN can learn from others to find our place in the global value chain.

We explore the technology behind the “Smart Factory”, the critical enablers of Industry 4.0 success, and how manufacturers can identify solutions and strategies that suit their unique needs.

We reveal the Industry 4.0 technology trends already taking place across the region and how ASEAN national initiatives are supporting adoption development. We will also showcase some use cases, case studies, and resource analysis of ASEAN markets.

We also present clear guidelines for Industry 4.0 practitioners to consider when looking to increase value from their business in this new world. We hope this depth of research will help all stakeholders navigate change in ASEAN during the fourth industrial revolution.

We invite you to join us for the voyage into the future of manufacturing. For more info, visit www.asean4ir.com

About the Columnist

Industry veteran Colin Koh is our monthly columnist to share with SIAA community the essence of ASEAN manufacturing and pragmatic tips on how to approach and navigate the fourth industrial revolution for their businesses. Stay tune to Colin's regular segment all about Smart Manufacturing 4.0 in ASEAN! Please visit www.asean4ir.com for more resource.