Newspaper
The Journal of aluminium production and processing
www.aluminiumtoday.com
Digital manufacturing on the rise The aluminium industry is getting ready for digitalisation and the implementation of Industry 4.0 technologies. Those are the findings of a survey of 240 aluminium experts from 39 countries conducted on the occasion of the ALUMINIUM World Trade Fair 2018. Industry 4.0 applications are on the agenda for about 90 per cent of companies. Some 62 per cent are already developing strategies or have reached the implementation phase. The digital transformation and the path to intelligent production is one of the biggest challenges for industry, and the aluminium sector is no exception. The ALUMINIUM trade fair survey shows that the aluminium industry is already well positioned in the digital realm and reveals the ways companies are dealing with Industry 4.0 technologies. Digital manufacturing is of very highto-high significance for 85 per cent of the companies surveyed. Small companies (up to 9 employees) and large-scale industrial enterprises (5,000 employees and up) are particularly aware of the importance of digital technologies – they consider them most relevant.
processes (38%) is their key concern. The same is true in mechanical and plant engineering (35%), where networked production control (35%) also plays an important role. Companies in aluminium processing, such as those specialised in surface treatments, care about connecting with other partners (38%). Distributors feel similarly: As one would expect, they prioritise networking with customers (67%) and mobile devices (44%).
The goal: Optimising the value chain
Efficient production processes, increased productivity and enhanced collaboration within the supply chain are seen as the biggest advantages offered by Industry 4.0 applications. In addition, many of the respondents are hoping for closer relationships with partners and customers and expect faster and better connectivity with suppliers, improved customer support and faster response times, among other things.
Even though many companies are already planning and implementing projects, there is a strong need for know-how and best practices when it comes to digital manufacturing in the aluminium industry. Asked about the solutions companies are looking for right now, supply chain management was mentioned most often. There’s also strong demand for the networking of machines, robotic solutions, continued on page 3 ••
Implementation levels vary
Implementation levels at companies vary, however: while 28 per cent of respondents are still in the information-gathering phase, just as many (28%) are currently in the process of developing a digital strategy. The first projects are being realised in 23 per cent of the surveyed companies. Meanwhile, 11 per cent of respondents are already comprehensively deploying Industry 4.0 projects.
Production and R&D
Today, Industry 4.0 applications are primarily deployed in production (27%) and research & development (22%), followed by distribution (15%), logistics (13%) and the supply chain (12%). Industry 4.0 technologies are used in production control (14%), the networking of machines (“Internet of Things”, 14%) and production processes (13%). At the same time, companies are also focussed on linking up with partners (11%) and on mobile devices (11%) and cloud computing (9%). In the opinion of the respondents, networking with customers and/or external partners is getting more and more important. So far, however, only 28 per cent of the companies are systematically integrating their partners in the planning and/or implementation of their digital manufacturing strategy.
Differences by sector
When it comes to the use of digital solutions, one must differentiate between industrial sectors. The networking of machines (39%) and production control (37%) are considered most important in the production of materials and semifinished goods. By contrast, manufacturers of components for user industries say the digitalisation of individual production
www.aluminiumtoday.com
AL_NEWSPAPER.indd 1
Aluminium Show Newspaper 1••
28/08/2018 14:25