Our subject matter experts Linn Fransson and Fredrik Arrigucci shared their insights in a conversation recorded for our Beyond Tomorrow podcast.
From closed systems to flexibility and interoperability
Fredrik Arrigucci describes how industrial control systems have evolved from being electrically controlled via relays and resistors to computer-based, but still closed and isolated, systems. In the past, they used proprietary protocols that locked customers into specific vendors' ecosystems.
"In the 1990s, we saw a change with decentralized control and standardized communication protocols. This opened up for better interaction between different systems," says Fredrik.
This transition now allows for flexible and scalable production, which is crucial in a rapidly changing industry.
IoT and smart automation: A paradigm shift
The Internet of Things (IoT ) has revolutionized industry since it first took off around 2013. Linn Fransson highlights how IoT and smart automation make it possible to connect sensors and devices throughout the production line.
"It has led to greater flexibility and the ability to adjust process parameters in real time without shutting down production. Moreover, technologies such as cloud and edge computing help scale operations without compromising efficiency," explains Linn.
Fredrik agrees and adds: "For companies that start collecting data today, even if they don't know exactly what to do with it, competitiveness increases enormously."
AI and autonomous systems: what's next?
Artificial intelligence is one of the most exciting factors in the development of the process industry of the future, not least because AI can optimize processes and anticipate problems autonomously.
"AI makes it possible to not only react in real time, but also to simulate future scenarios and make decisions within certain limits. This is a significant change compared to previous control systems that required extensive coding or hardware changes for adjustments," Fredrik notes.
Challenges and opportunities
Despite the great progress made, some challenges remain. Information security is an area that requires continued focus. Linn emphasizes the importance of integrating data from all levels of the production chain and using modern data storage solutions such as data lakes.
"Instead of rebuilding physical systems, we can now make adjustments quickly thanks to more integrated and flexible systems. This is a huge advantage," concludes Fredrik.
Where are we heading?
Industry 4.0 has rapidly transformed the process industry by introducing technologies such as IoT, AI and decentralized control systems. These advances have created new opportunities for flexibility, scalability and competitiveness. At the same time, balancing old and new systems, and taking full advantage of the huge amounts of data now available, is an exciting challenge.
With this in mind, the future is bright for the process industry - a future driven by innovation and human-machine interaction. Where efficiency and sustainability merge to form a common denominator - industry 5.0 and on and on.
