🚀 Shaping the Future - Issue 32
The Industry 4.0 Club announced key changes to its leadership team, positioning the club for a transformative year in 2024.
🚨 Industry 4.0 Club Announces Strategic Leadership Changes for an Innovative 2024
Simpsonville, SC – The Industry 4.0 Club announced key changes to its leadership team, positioning the club for a transformative year in 2024. These changes include:
Mike Yost as Chair of the Board of Directors with extensive experience in bringing together solution providers and manufacturers to help solve their most challenging issues.
Carol Mitchell-Lin as Vice-chair, known for her Industry 4.0 thought leadership, co-host role in our Women In Manufacturing LinkedIn Live broadcasts, and commitment to manufacturers’ success everywhere.
Jan Pingel as Secretary, whose background as a results-driven Industrial & IT Product Development & Marketing Executive will enhance our strategic initiatives.
Grace Donovan as Treasurer, leveraging her business development experience to fortify our financial planning.
Mike Ungar as the visionary CEO, leveraging his 35 years of manufacturing experience to lead the club into new frontiers.
Reflecting on a successful 2023, the Industry 4.0 Club has achieved a following of over 5,000 individuals and hosted over 100 virtual and in-person conversations and speakers, significantly expanding its influence and reach. Our regular broadcasts on LinkedIn Live, YouTube, and X have connected thousands of manufacturing professionals, discussing cutting-edge topics like the Future of Manufacturing and Women in Manufacturing.
Mike Yost, the newly appointed Chair, emphasizes, "Our commitment goes beyond conversations; it's about actionable insights and tangible progress in the world of manufacturing. We are gearing up for groundbreaking initiatives in 2024 that will empower our community and redefine industry standards for openness and collaboration."
In addition to our digital presence, the Industry 4.0 Club has been instrumental in facilitating knowledge exchange through speakers and workshops at various in-person events, underscoring our commitment to practical and hands-on learning. Join us on this exciting journey.
Discover more about our plans for 2024 and connect with manufacturing innovators at www.industry40club.com and follow our updates on LinkedIn.
About The Industry 4.0 Club
Industry 4.0 Club is a dynamic, growth-oriented community that brings together professionals from diverse backgrounds to foster collaboration, knowledge sharing, and innovation within the realm of Industry 4.0.
Our members include practitioners, technology providers, consultants, and thought leaders united by their passion for the advancement of smart manufacturing solutions. By hosting engaging events, insightful discussions, and providing a platform for networking, we empower our members to forge connections, learn from one another, and shape the future of sustainable and efficient manufacturing practices.
📣 The 2024 Sustainability World Cup
The Sustainability World Cup is an online course AND competition. It is a great way to learn about sustainability and how to use it to grow a business more sustainably. All participants who finish the course will get certificates of completion, which they can add to their learning credentials.
🧠 Educating Manufacturers About Industry 4.0
Last week’s Fireside Chat was all about Industry 4.0, emphasizing the critical need to educate manufacturers about its opportunities and challenges.Discussions centered on the need for embracing digitalization, automation, and connectivity to maintain competitiveness in a rapidly evolving landscape.
You can watch the conversation below.
👩🏭Sustainable Decision Making with Data
Last week's Women in Manufacturing highlighted the role of data-driven decision-making in advancing sustainability within the construction industry. The panel shared insights into leveraging data analytics and innovative technologies to drive eco-conscious practices and enhance project efficiency; underscoring the importance of diversity and inclusion in shaping a more sustainable future for construction.
You can watch the conversation below.
📚What we’ve read this week
Xometry's 2024 Automotive Manufacturing Industry Survey [Xometry]
Xometry and Thomasnet conducted a benchmark study forecasting 2024 automotive manufacturing trends. Below are some highlights:
Amid the backdrop of the 2023 United Auto Workers strike, two-thirds (67%) of those surveyed believe that their company will increase worker wages within the next 12 months.
More than three-quarters (79%) are likely to reshore products or raw materials suppliers within the next year, but the cost is the biggest barrier to sourcing automotive supplies domestically.
An overwhelming majority (84%) indicate that it’s difficult to bridge the gap between their current status of electric vehicle innovation and where the Biden administration wants them to be in 2024
Artificial intelligence (AI) is an untapped technology in the automotive sector, with close to half (48%) of respondents not currently implementing AI in automotive production
Automotive R&D Transformation: Optimizing GenAI’s Value [McKinsey]
The transition to electric vehicle (EV) technology, the rise of software-defined vehicles, and the emergence of generative AI (gen AI) are reshaping the automotive industry. A workshop with European automotive and manufacturing executives focused on the impact of gen AI revealed that 75% of companies are experimenting with gen AI, with investments reaching up to €5 million for over 40% of respondents. However, most gen AI pilot programs are limited to specific stages of the R&D process, indicating a lack of systematic integration. The potential of gen AI in R&D is substantial, with expectations of improving processes by 10-20%. Use cases include requirements engineering, software testing, product design, and optimization. Gen AI has also demonstrated efficiency gains in documentation and compliance tasks, as well as in the design segment. Despite the opportunities, the adoption of gen AI faces significant barriers, chiefly organizational and cultural changes. A value-centered approach, framing gen AI as an enabler, and addressing legal and ethical considerations are crucial for successful integration.
Heavy Machinery Meets AI [HBR]
The manufacturing industry is undergoing a transformational shift with the increasing integration of advanced software into products. This approach, known as fusion strategy, differs significantly from traditional IoT strategy and is categorized into four types: fusion products, fusion services, fusion systems, and fusion solutions. These categories encompass a range of approaches from leveraging data from single products to integrating multiple systems for customer outcomes. Companies like Tesla and Rolls-Royce are examples of early adopters, using fusion strategies to create innovative products and services. John Deere has also adopted such an approach with See & Spray, a revolutionary fully self-driving tractor and weed killer. The See & Spray features a 120-foot carbon-fiber boom equipped with 36 cameras that can scan 2,100 square feet per second. It utilizes 10 onboard vision-processing units that handle nearly four gigabytes of data per second. This system, powered by AI and deep learning, distinguishes crops from weeds and sprays the latter, moving through fields at 12 miles per hour. Furthermore, Deere collects extensive data from its modern farm equipment, including the See & Spray. This data gathered from about 500,000 machines over 325 million acres, is analyzed in Deere’s JDLink system. This cloud-enabled system generates immediate and future enhancements for both equipment and farms to drive optimal management of seeds, fertilizers, and weeds.
America Wanted a Homegrown Solar Industry. China Is Building a Lot of It. [WSJ]
For years, the U.S. imposed increasing barriers to Chinese solar panel imports to protect domestic suppliers. However, following the IRA, which introduced substantial production subsidies, major Chinese solar companies are now establishing or expanding their panel factories in the U.S., with locations ranging from Ohio to Texas. These companies account for nearly a quarter of the roughly 80 gigawatts of new solar panel capacity announced since the legislation, potentially benefiting from up to $1.4 billion annually in government subsidies. These new U.S.-based factories are significant in scale, with at least four backed by Chinese manufacturers expected to come online this year. They could supply over half of the 33 gigawatts of panels installed in the U.S. last year. Prominent Chinese companies, such as Longi Green Energy Technology and Trina Solar, are leading this expansion. Trina Solar, in particular, has announced a $200 million investment in a Dallas-area factory capable of producing five gigawatts of solar panels annually. The move of Chinese solar manufacturers to the U.S. presents both opportunities and challenges. While it boosts local economies and supports U.S. clean-energy goals, it also raises concerns about the U.S. becoming dependent on China for clean energy.
Battery Plant Scrap Rates Can Hit 90% At Ramp Up [AutoWeek]
There are significant challenges and costs associated with launching large-scale, automated electric vehicle (EV) battery plants, specifically high scrap rates during the pilot production phase. Dr. Tal Sholklapper, co-founder of Voltaiq, a startup that uses analytics to improve battery production yields, highlights that initial production yields can be extremely low, with only 10% to 20% of production being usable. This results not only in wastage but also in the need to manage hazardous waste, which can be a significant cost for companies. The journey to profitability in this sector can take three to four years due to these inefficiencies. Reducing scrap rates by even one percentage point can mean tens of millions in added profit annually. For instance, the Tesla/Panasonic Gigafactory in Nevada had a scrap rate of 84% in the third quarter of 2017, soon after production started. Tesla redirected its best engineering talent to improve these rates, and by 2019, yields at the Gigafactory had improved to 75%.
🎤 Upcoming Events
👋 Get Involved
Join the Industry 4.0 Club and be part of our vibrant community, dedicated to shaping the future of manufacturing. By actively participating, you can make a meaningful impact in advancing Industry 4.0 and contribute to reshaping the manufacturing landscape.
We’re always looking for new contributors to share their expertise, experience and spread the word. You can contact us directly at info@industry40club.com with subject like “Getting Involved” and follow us on all social media (LinkedIn & Twitter) or donate to help fund the club’s activities.
💬 About Shaping the Future
Shaping the Future is Industry 4.0 Club’s official newsletter. We’ll be experiencing different formats over the coming weeks until we find the one that resonates the most with our members. You can help us improve by sharing feedback and suggestions. The newsletter will land in your inbox every Sunday morning; please subscribe to not miss anything and forward the email to someone you think would benefit from this.
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