Industry 4.0, also known as the Fourth Industrial Revolution or 4IR, is a term used to describe the current era of connectivity, advanced analytics, automation, and advanced-manufacturing technology that has been transforming global business for years. It is characterized by increasing automation and the employment of smart machines and smart factories, informed data helps to produce goods more efficiently and productively across the value chain. The Fourth Industrial Revolution is the trend towards automation and data exchange in manufacturing technologies and processes which include cyber-physical systems (CPS), IoT, industrial internet of things, cloud computing, cognitive computing, and artificial intelligence. It builds on the inventions of the Third Industrial Revolution, which brought us computers, other kinds of electronics, the Internet, and much more, with four foundational types of disruptive technologies that can be applied all along the value chain. These technologies include:

• Internet of Things (IoT): This refers to the interconnectivity of devices and machines, allowing them to communicate with each other and share data.

• Artificial Intelligence (AI): This refers to the ability of machines to learn and make decisions based on data.

• Big Data: This refers to the collection and analysis of large amounts of data to identify patterns and insights.

• Additive Manufacturing (3D Printing): This refers to the process of creating three-dimensional objects by depositing materials layer by layer.

Industry 4.0 is about more than just technology-driven change; it represents a fundamental change in the way we live, work, and relate to one another. It is revolutionizing the way companies manufacture, improve, and distribute their products, and every single industry will be transformed during this era.