Smart factory and smart production, Germany wants to lead the fourth industrial revolution

Germany's "industry 4.0" strategy defines two major objectives: "intelligent factory", focusing on the realization of intelligent production system and production process; "Intelligent production" involves the logistics production management of enterprises and the application of intelligent technology

Bosch's plant in roetlingen can produce 2.4 million sensors a day. When the company started producing sensors in 1995, it was only limited to ESP systems for cars. Today, half of the world's smartphones are equipped with Bosch sensors. This kind of sensor has been applied to countless products, and Bosch has become a giant in the world electronics industry.

However, Bosch also had to face an embarrassing reality: although it provided basic parts for the "digital revolution", the "digital revolution" took place in the United States. Dr. Kong Hanning, former CEO of German software giant sap and one of the planners of the concept of "industry 4.0", warned that these world champion enterprises in Germany may become "replaceable" product suppliers of American service providers in the future.

For a long time, the advantages of industry have made Germans proud. However, the arrival of the "Digital Age" has wiped out the German sense of superiority. Especially when American Internet giants "set foot in" the industrial field one after another, Germans feel a great threat from the other side of the Atlantic. Therefore, Germany put forward and vigorously promoted the "industry 4.0" strategy, made efforts to realize the "seamless connection" between real industrial production and the virtual digital world, and intended to lead the "fourth industrial revolution".

The core connotation of this strategy is that the first three industrial revolutions originated from mechanization, power and information technology. Now, the introduction of the Internet of things and the Internet into the manufacturing industry will usher in the fourth industrial revolution. Therefore, the "industry 4.0" strategy defines two major objectives: first, the "intelligent factory", which focuses on the realization of intelligent production system and production process, as well as networked distributed production facilities; The second is "intelligent production", which mainly involves the logistics production management of the whole enterprise, human-computer interaction and the application of intelligent technology in the process of industrial production. In addition, the strategy will pay special attention to attracting the participation of small and medium-sized enterprises, trying to make small and medium-sized enterprises become users and beneficiaries of the new generation of intelligent production technology, as well as creators and suppliers of advanced industrial production technology.

In the near future, enterprises will integrate software, sensors and communication systems into the so-called "cyber physical systems", build a "smart factory", create "intelligent production", improve resource utilization, production flexibility and the closeness between customers and business partners, and enhance the commercial value of industrial production. According to a study by the German Federal Association for information technology, communication and new media, through the "industry 4.0" strategy, the output value of six important industries in Germany's national economy is expected to increase by 78 billion euros by 2025, with an average annual increase of 1.7% for each industry.

Germany also faces many obstacles to achieve this strategy, such as security loopholes in information technology, lack of standardization and professionals, insufficient infrastructure and high related costs. In addition, the most important thing is to solve many international standards. But Germany is not "eager for success". If one day the "German standard" becomes a common norm in the world, then for Germany, all the costs are worth it.

In addition to Germany, other developed countries in the world have begun to pay more attention to the development of advanced manufacturing industry. The United States is also promoting the development of advanced manufacturing industry through various plans, which is called "Reindustrialization". In any case, the United States and Germany on both sides of the Atlantic have begun a competition for the dominance of new industrial reform.