Before we dive into Industry 4.0 or the 4th industrial evolution, lets take a look at what were the 3 earlier industrial revolutions.
The 1st industrial revolution happened at around 1765, where our economy transformed from agriculture to industry, where processes became mechanized and products were manufactured for the first time. It was driven by coal, which together with the development of the steam engine, changed the way goods were produced. Spinning machines and looms to make fabric made their appearance, as well as canal transportation began replacing wagon and mules for moving goods around.
The 2nd industrial revolution revolved around the discovery of electricity, gas and oil at around 1870. Combustion engine was invented. At the same time, both steel- and chemically based products entered the market. Moreover, developments in communication technology got a jump start with the telegraph and later the telephone, as well as the leap in transportation with the invention of the plane and car. Mechanical production grew in speed through the advent of mass production.
About 100 years later, in 1969, the 3rd industrial revolution was led by nuclear energy and electronics. Nuclear power began in Europe, grew in both Great Britain and the United States, went into remission for years, and grew in Asia.
The acceleration of digital technology has led to our current 4th industrial revolution (or Industry 4.0). The internet and the digital world mean a real-time connection within more and more components of a production line, both inside and outside facility walls. As the development of the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), cloud technology and artificial intelligence continue, a virtual world will merge with the physical world. Predictive maintenance and real-time data will lead to smarter business decisions for a myriad of companies around the world.
References:
https://www.onupkeep.com/answers/maintenance-history/four-industrial-revolutions
