We people move by fashions, we all know that. But it turns out that in companies we do the same, the last? Industry 4.0. We have all received an avalanche of press articles, conferences of public bodies and associations, books of new technological gurus and invitations to forums of all kinds. If you will allow me: we have become a little crazy.

Last month I was called by a customer and confidence told me: “We are investing a lot of money in the famous 4.0: process automation, MES systems with artificial intelligence, sensor connectivity, machines and the ERP itself , As well as gadgets all over the factory to provide just-in-time accurate information about the process, product changes or alternations in demand.And says: We have everything, but you know what? We do not know what to do with everything .

Technological evolution and demand behavior

FORD revolutionized the practices of management with verticality and specialization of the work and new systems of organization of factory with the series production; Between 2nd and 3rd, and thanks to the TWI of the American arms industry and the Toyota Production System in Japan, the concepts of JIT were introduced, the approach to value flow and continuous improvement from plant. But what is between the 3rd and 4th? And beyond the 4th?

There are two concepts that coincide in history: the evolution of technology (steam engine, electricity, combustion engine, internet, etc) and changes in market behavior (more demand than supply at the beginning of XX, balance between Two forces at the end of XX, until custom demand with immediate execution today).

Applying only technology are we in revolution 4.0?

Do we really believe that we can only apply the technological part to our 4.0? It is not possible, it lacks the soul, and that is not what we did in the past. Today, highly standardized and control-based systems fail in the face of irregular and chaotic demand behavior. Today the same systems of vertical organization and based on control discourage our workers, and even more millenials.

A new management is necessary within a new organizational structure, and this comes from the Quick Response Manufacturing (QRM) and Business Agility: flat structures, based on cells and customer-focused areas (not the boss) fully self- Managed, environments full of challenges and not of rules and orders that come from above with equipment that is responsible for complete processes (not only parts of it), without departments or practically structure. These environments ensure an unprecedented involvement and an energy in the computer that no gadget can compare to …

If we really want to bet on this path we must take the road in both directions, on the one hand we have to understand and apply the change in management style by reorganizing our company to better serve our customers and on the other evolve our technology to really achieve The desired effect.

Industry 4.0, the human element and its destination

Uso de cookies

Este sitio web utiliza cookies para que usted tenga la mejor experiencia de usuario. Si continúa navegando está dando su consentimiento para la aceptación de las mencionadas cookies y la aceptación de nuestra política de cookies, pinche el enlace para mayor información.

ACEPTAR
Aviso de cookies