Cloud Solutions in industrial plants

If we take a brief look back over previous industrial revolutions: mechanization (steam and coal), electricity (mass manufacturing, assembly line) and electronics and computing (automation thanks to information and communication technologies) we can see how these events caused cities and populations to develop, marking a turning point for economies and society as a whole.

As we saw at the start of the pandemic, digitized companies have been those best able to overcome the limitations of confinement. They have also had, and continue to have, the greatest potential to succeed in these times of uncertainty. In times of coronavirus, the value of connectivity has been recognized for its ability to enable productive activity to continue through remote working.

Most managers of manufacturing companies will have heard of Industry 4.0, but what does it really mean and why is it important? Rob Powell the Commercial Director for Lantek in Malvern, UK is in an ideal position to explain as Lantek specialises in CADCAM (Computer Aided Design and Manufacture) and ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) software for sheet metal manufacturers, helping them to program their sheet metal machinery, optimise material usage and run their businesses more efficiently.