The impact digital connectivity can bring to factories is indeed a revolution, and the key driver of this fourth industrial revolution — Industry 4.0 — is the internet. Integrating high-speed communications into today’s factories allows manufacturers to harness the power of data. Instead of the machines in a factory all performing different tasks in isolation, the smart factory brings these machines together into a multilayer network where data from every machine can be shared, analyzed, and acted on for greater productivity.

The possibilities of a digital factory future are exciting. Machines will collect data on how they are functioning, monitor energy use and adjust for energy efficiency, then help predict when and what maintenance is needed before alerting technicians, who could diagnose and even repair the machine using VR/AR technology. Raw material usage can be tracked in real time, allowing manufacturers to better prevent shortages and line stops. Sensors integrated into the machines capture and send data the manufacturer can use to implement changes and quickly respond to customer demands.