As the Internet of Things is slowly but gradually gaining ground at factories worldwide, global networks will unite machines, management and storage systems, as well as the production facilities of smart plants. The variety of devices included in the general network exchange data, initiate certain actions and control each other all in the name of simplifying the modernization of production processes, design, supply chain, use of materials and life cycle management. In a nutshell, the principles of Industry 4.0 provide a great opportunity to improve the quality, flexibility and reliability of the entire work of the enterprise.

As commonly known, the fourth industrial revolution is based on smart plants. At such enterprises, it is possible to implement production processes of any complexity, while minimizing the risk of failures and ensuring the effective creation of smart products. One of the important components of such industries is wireless networks that control all processes, machines, resources and employees. Besides, they also allow the safe exchange of data between companies.

Courtesy of global networks, smart products can be monitored throughout the entire production cycle in real time. In some cases, they may even autonomously control the process of their production, ensuring the optimization in terms of logistics, service, and integration with the rest of the enterprise. In the future, it will be possible to integrate some service functions into smart products and set specific parameters for design, ordering, production planning, operation and disposal – an especially important factor when talking about the production of small quantities of goods.

Smart enterprises will be able to take into account the individual requirements of customers. Secondly, they can change the mode of production and quickly respond to supplier failures. This kind of full transparency of production processes allows manufacturers to make optimal decisions and create new business models.

It is important to note that production workers will be freed from the need to perform routine tasks due to the ability to control production processes and manage them through networks. Good news is that companies like Pegasus One android app development company will be able to pay more attention to their professional development and spend more time on creative tasks. At the same time, senior employees will also be in demand due to a shortage of skilled workers who are familiar with the industry.

The key to the things above is called a Cloud Platform System, or simply put, CPS. Let’s outline its benefits in detail.

The CPS platform is a cloud-in-box solution designed to support enterprise processes and their interconnected networks. With the help of the applications provided by this platform, it will be possible to provide reliable communication between employees, objects and systems. Such applications include:

• flexibility, performance and ease of use of the developed services;
• easy deployment of business process model directly from the App Store;
• comprehensive, secure and reliable backup of all business processes;
• safety and reliability of the entire production process – from sensors to user networks;
• support for mobile platforms and devices;
• support co-production, service processes, analysis and forecasting in networks;

When dealing with the development of services and applications on CPS platforms, it is necessary to take into account the requirements of vertical and horizontal integration. At the same time, within the framework of Industry 4.0, the implementation has a broader meaning in comparison with web services: the creation of common services and applications should be part of the joint work of companies.

During the orchestration and subsequent implementation of production and service processes, safety, reliability, usability, real-time data analysis and forecasting are also required. This will solve the problems associated with a huge number of data sources and end devices. As far as modelling is concerned, applications and services will be developed for CPS platforms, which include changes in functionality, clustering and interaction between enterprise services. When working together, several companies will also need a reference architecture that takes into account the prospects for the development of the industry. Ensuring a secure exchange of information will be an efficient and reliable broadband network infrastructure.

The transition to Industry 4.0 will entail the formation of new business models and partnerships. These models will provide both small and medium business with access to additional services and software licenses. Thanks to this approach, no matter if you have a professional IT department at your factory or resort to the services of manufacturing software developers, it will be possible to create business networks in which revenues are fairly distributed among all participants of the value chain. Moreover, all partners will fulfil expanded regulatory requirements for products and production.