The Future of Industrial Revolution 4.0

Sixty-five percent of children entering elementary school today will grow up to work in positions that don’t even exist today, according to the World Economic Forum. Spurring this transformation? Industry 4.0. Characterized by digitization and smart technology, this fourth industrial revolution is changing how we work with the need for a highly skilled workforce emerging as a top priority.
And while keeping up presents unprecedented obstacles for organizations, equally unprecedented opportunities exist for those with the right leadership in place. Here’s a closer look at Industry 4.0, why it matters, what skills are needed for the workers of tomorrow, and how a degree in manufacturing automation and digital transformation can position aspiring business leaders to successfully navigate this evolving new reality.
What is Industry 4.0?
The manufacturing sector has undergone many transformations over the years. The first industrial revolution saw a shift to mechanization through water and steam power while the second ushered in the era of mass production with the introduction of the moving assembly line. Then there was the third industrial revolution, also known as the digital revolution, resulting from the inventions of semiconductors, computers, and the internet.
Industry 4.0 is the natural next step, one that involves the “blurring [of] the lines between the physical, digital and biological spheres,” according to Klaus Schwab, founder and executive chairman of the World Economic Forum (WEF) and author of the 2016 book The Fourth Industrial Revolution.
Perhaps Bernard Marr summed it up best for Forbes: “Industry 4.0 optimizes the computerization of Industry 3.0.”
In other words, while computers were initially disruptive because they introduced an entirely new technology, their vastly enhanced connectedness has changed the game again with the introduction of many different technologies, including cyber-physical systems (CPS), the Internet of Things (IoT), big data, cloud computing, and cognitive computing.
Why Industry 4.0 matters
Through everything from autonomous equipment and vehicles to additive manufacturing (3D printing), Industry 4.0 has vast potential across many aspects of business, including:
- Identifying opportunities
- Increasing productivity
- Optimizing logistics and supply chains
- Improving business continuity
- Better working conditions
- Customization
- Agility
The number one value driver for all companies, meanwhile? Workers. “Companies are also grappling with how to upskill their current workforce to take on new work responsibilities made possible by Internet 4.0 and to recruit new employees with the right skills,” insists Marr.
Industry 4.0's impact on the workforce
Indeed, the impact of Industry 4.0 on the workforce has profound potential. And while many people fear automation as a risk to employees, others see it as an avenue to job creation as it will free up employees from administrative tasks thereby allowing them to focus their efforts on better things. These positions will center around critical thinking and innovation.
Stefanini’s Industry 4.0: A Complete Guide proposes, “Projections for the future labor market reveal the survival of companies and professionals depends on their ability to innovate and evolve. In the future, job requirements will focus on qualification, creativity, resilience, and the ability to work as a team.” Which brings us back to leadership. Hays Germany CIO Steve Weston insists leaders must be “responsive to the changes digital transformation brings to the workforce.”
Indeed, leading global consultancy firm McKinsey & Company reveals the route to industry 4.0 is not easy and can be derailed by no clear vision, technical infrastructures which hinder or complicate progress, and no executive leadership of transformation projects. It highlights six points companies and business leaders need to adopt to make industry 4.0 a success -- the ability to: scale IT infrastructures; reach consensus in terms of data and analytics; change business management processes; connect from production to management (Manufacturing Execution System (MES)); analyse performance with KPIs; and co-operate in terms of business ecosystems. So, a lot to learn for business leaders of Industry 4.0!
Are you ready for Industry 4.0?
Indeed, while much remains unknown about Industry 4.0, at least one thing is for certain: the leaders of tomorrow will need unique knowledge and skills to navigate the path to business success. Enter the Executive Master in Business Administration (IEMBA) at Mantissa College, Malaysia by Paris Graduate School of Management, France (PGSM) a worldwide leader in advanced industrial automation products and systems.
This flexible, 15-month, English language program is designed to meet the needs of today’s global busy executives with at least few years of professional work experience.
Industry 4.0 is here and with it comes massive change and promise -- for businesses helmed by people with the right knowledge and skills, that is. If you’re looking to become a more flexible thinker and effective leader in Industry 4.0, the Executive Master in Business Administration (IEMBA) from PGSM, France offers a unique opportunity for executives to advance their skills and be prepared for the fourth industrial revolution.
At Mantissa College, we deliver the part-time EMBA Programme and MBA programmes Master of Business Administration programme, a programme in collaboration with Paris Graduate School of Management, France case studies comprise an impressive 50 per cent of assessments while the remaining 50 per cent is designated for assignments. The takeaway? When it comes to an active, engaging and hands-on business degree, you’d be hard-pressed to find one better than this MBA.
Mantissa College’s MBA program boasts a dynamic global network of more than 80,000 alumni. One recent alumnus, Harrison Jub, says, “I took the 15-month Master of Business Administration course and in the first week, I was discussing the Real Case Study with groups of working professionals from different fields. And so I was learning from real people with real problems. Thanks to the case study based learning approach I am now capable of taking up more projects because I had been exposed to a wider perspective on handling matters from my learning experience.”
Certainly, evidence attests to the tremendous value of case studies in business education. Between its focus on this learning style and many other desirable attributes, Mantissa College’s Master of Business Administration offers an invaluable inside edge for aspiring business leaders.
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i) Scan copy of your Degree Certificate AND ii) Scan copy of your Degree Transcripts
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