Developing an I4.0 Cyber-Physical System to Enhance Efficiency and Competitiveness in Manufacturing

Abstract

Industry 4.0 (I4.0) grants businesses in the manufacturing sector significant benefits in terms of productivity and efficiency; however, industries must strive to reach a level of technological readiness and acquire the necessary expertise to implement and integrate I4.0 technologies to enhance their processes. This paper presents a framework designed to provide guidance to businesses within the manufacturing industry to improve efficiency and productivity. The framework was developed and refined in collaboration with a leading cold-chain insulated packaging manufacturer based in Melbourne, Australia. The proposed framework was designed and implemented utilising off-the-shelf sensing, processing, and visualisation components, which can be integrated into existing machinery, thereby achieving a cost-effective retrofit. Experimental results showed that a system developed using the proposed framework can accurately measure material consumption in terms of length. The system provides the building blocks for the manufacturer to avoid downtime by preventing the machine from running out of raw materials.