Industry 4.0 is transforming the manufacturing industry. Automation technology is driving the change from manual labor to autonomous processes.  Tasks performed by humans are being replaced by tasks performed by robotic machines.  Central to this transformation are computerized digital control systems coordinating and performing the new automated tasks. This leaves a great potential in advancing manufacturing technology to a new era where smart factories will be replacing traditional technologies. 

Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs) is the main automation platform in manufacturing. Industry 4.0 systems are realized in a distributed network of controllers with distributed inputs and outputs (I/O).  A hybrid set of controllers containing PLCs and embedded controllers.

Modern distributed industrial automation system are a hybrid compination of tradional PLCs and embedded controllers. Controllers are tightly integrated with intelligent sensors and actuators via field buses and the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT). Often hundreds of interconnected controllers with redundancy for critical tasks. 

Dedicated compute units are feeding information to the control system. Data flowing between the control layer and the enterprise layer. Smart manufacturing is in the making.

Advancing manufacturing technology to a new level of Industry 4.0 automation.  Complete automation with robotic manufacturing lines, autonomous transportation of materials and a high-level scheduling logic coordinating all manufacturing activities.  Data readily available for decision support. A realization of this vision in smart factories build on Industry 4.0 principles.