The role of data in industry 4.0 - Connected Technology Solutions

The challenges encountered by manufacturing companies when it comes to handling data are well reported, but what can they do to ensure that data is an asset rather than a problem? Data has long been treated in the manufacturing industry as the orphan nephew living in the cupboard under the stairs. While operational and service industries have leapt on the benefits of data as the catalyst of business growth and efficiency gains, the manufacturing sector has been slow to adopt the culture of becoming a data-driven business. According to Accenture, only 13 per cent of manufacturing companies have seen through a digital transformation of their processes. "In many ways the core approach to manufacturing has remained unchanged for the past 50 years despite the industry experimenting with offshoring and integrated manufacturing in mega factories," Tim Hall, VP products, InfluxData, says.