Interactions and Challenges of Industry 4.0 Implementation in an Environment Practicing Lean Principles
Today's and tomorrow's industry aims to connect all means of production to enable their interaction in real time. The so-called Factories 4.0 enable communication between the different players and objects connected in a production line. Thus, the value chain between industry and consumers can be narrowed, allowing a much greater interaction between these two links and effectively bringing the customization of products. On the other hand, the standardization of processes, the elimination of waste and the search for improvement throughout the value chain, are strongly present in lean philosophy, which aims to promote the learning of the organization through continuous improvement. Companies that will rely on the Industry 4.0 apparatus and modern information and communication technologies need to define processes efficiently before starting the automation phase. Industry 4.0 therefore requires a certain level of organization, defining processes, suppliers, customers, tasks and times. Industry 4.0's implementation of horizontal and vertical networks allows for better integration of customers and suppliers into the value stream. Faced with this scenario, Lean Manufacturing becomes a enabler for Industry 4.0, and the synergy between them can enhance implementation outcomes. That said, the main objective of this work is to identify the interactions and challenges that exist in the implementation of Industry 4.0 initiatives in an environment that has a lean philosophy. It seeks to answer the following question: how to direct the implementation of Industry 4.0 in a environment practicing lean manufacturing, in order to maximize its results?