Industrial Automation (AI) is at an inflection point. Organizations around the world are well on the way to implementing the technologies that allow them to realize the promise of Industry 4.0. Indeed, the recent State of Industry 4.0 Survey conducted by Molex, determined that 87% of respondents are excited about the transformative power of Industry 4.0 over the next decade. But how do organizations develop smart ways to leverage these advancements as machines leap forward in intelligence and capability?

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This article is the first in a series exploring various aspects of the deployment and impact of smart technology in the agriculture and farming industry.

Industrial automation is undergoing something of a sea-change, with Industry 4.0 promising a new generation of communications technology capable of gathering and processing data at speeds close to real time. The virtually instant availability of this data drives the formation of a new ecosystem of ultra-efficient, highly connected and intelligent manufacturing. Set against a proliferation and legacy of both established and associated industry communications protocols, Industry 4.0 could appear as a threat to traditional industrial automation systems, such as some older versions of fieldbus. So, what barriers might stand in the way of a seamless Industry 4.0 future?

One of the capabilities Molex uses during new product development is “Design For” thinking, which supports supply-chain resiliency throughout product lifecycles.