Robotics and Industry 4.0: Reshaping the way things are made

It seems like there's more talk these days about Industry 4.0 -- or the fourth industrial revolution -- and robotics, along with other technologies that will play a role in this megatrend. Industry 4.0 is a confluence of trends and technologies that could reshape the way things are made. Industry 4.0 involves the heavy use of automation and data exchange in manufacturing environments, encompassing areas such as cyber-physical systems, the Internet of Things (IoT) and cloud computing, among others. With Industry 4.0, manufacturers will be able to operate "smarter" factories, in which they can more easily tailor products for specific customers. This new phase in manufacturing is so named because it follows the previous manufacturing phases of water/steam power, electric power, and computing power.