09 Digitization

 

Digitalization is closely related to informatization. Like automation, this is the largest investment in industrial intelligent transformation. With the rapid development of information technology, everything can be digitized, connecting everything from people, products to equipment.

 

Products can be digitalized through PLM/ERP software, from product development and design, material procurement to production delivery, and every product drawing, every material information, and every production process are digitally connected together.

 

 

Equipment can transmit operating data to MES, Internet and other networks through PLCs, sensors, etc., so GE can analyze the data returned by aircraft engines to optimize its operating parameters to reduce fuel costs, and Google can realize unmanned driving of cars.

 

This means that in the "Industry 4.0" era, it is possible for the first time to interconnect resources, information, objects and people through digitalization! This communication includes people and people, people and products, people and machines, products and machines, and machines. Information exchange with the machine.

 

Each industry has different characteristics and enterprise foundations, and the sequence of digitalization is also different. I think that for those process-based manufacturing industries, because most of their manufacturing processes have been connected and the degree of automation is high, some equipment data can already be automatically collected, and the difficulty of digitization is relatively small.

 

For discrete manufacturing industries such as machinery and equipment, textiles and clothing, electronic appliances, household goods, etc., because the manufacturing processes and parts are scattered and the number is large, it is really difficult to realize the connection, even if the implementation cost will be very high. The feasible approach for these industries is not to do it in one step, but gradually realize it. First apply lean continuous production technology to connect the main processes and materials.

 

Due to the immaturity of technology and huge investment, each enterprise needs to weigh the timing of introduction, and, like automation, comprehensively consider issues such as return on investment, system reliability, information security risks, and talent reserves.

 

10 Intelligent

 

Intelligence has two meanings, one is the intelligence of the product, and the other is the intelligence of the manufacturing process.

 

Let me talk about the intelligence of the product first. Compared with the intelligence of consumer products, the intelligence of industrial products is actually more urgent. All equipment needs to add an intelligent control module to automatically collect, analyze and control processing data. It is equipped with a standard data interface and can be connected to the enterprise MES system or other information systems. These industrial big data will help improve through the calculation and analysis of the intelligent software system. Operational efficiency, reduce failures, and reduce energy consumption.

 

The intelligentization of the manufacturing process is more complicated. You need to complete the above-mentioned lean, standardization, modularization, automation and digital transformation, and the investment in automation and digitalization will also be large.

 

China's manufacturing has gone through 30 years of rapid development and has become the world's largest manufacturing country, but there are very few world-class products that can be delivered. In the next 30 years, China's manufacturing needs to shift from focusing on speed and light on quality to focusing on quality and light on speed. It requires continuous innovation in the above ten areas, and realizes the transformation from business model, technology and management to intelligent manufacturing in China.