8 Industry 4.0 in Welding
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8.3.4 Role of Industry 4.0 in Welding
Industry 4.0 can be attributed with four major principles, as represented in Fig. 8.8.
Each of these principles has been mentioned formally at first, followed by a discussion
on their implementation in welding.
8.3.4.1 Interoperability
This is also termed as “Interconnection”, and it refers to the mutual interaction among
the CPS, human and machine over a network. Tele-monitoring is going to be the next
generation technology as “digital transformation” permeates into manufacturing. In
welding, this principle aims to have a connectivity between the welding power source
and a central computer in which the variation of all the sensors’ data can be captured
over a network in real time. This has been termed as “remote monitoring” in general,
and “tele-welding” in case of welding. This is useful because it eliminates the physical
presence of human and local computers close to the machine area. The sensors’ data
will be stored remotely in the central computer over a network which can be accessed
by multiple users simultaneously. This data can be utilized for online tracking of the
welding process. Thus, several welding machines on a machine shop floor can be
connected to one such central database which would help in assessing the entire shop
floor’s data in one platform. Hence, this principle bridges the machines, sensors, and
humans in one tie over a network.
Fig. 8.8 Design and operating principles of Industry 4.0 and their utility in welding
275
8.3.4 Role of Industry 4.0 in Welding
Industry 4.0 can be attributed with four major principles, as represented in Fig. 8.8.
Each of these principles has been mentioned formally at first, followed by a discussion
on their implementation in welding.
8.3.4.1 Interoperability
This is also termed as “Interconnection”, and it refers to the mutual interaction among
the CPS, human and machine over a network. Tele-monitoring is going to be the next
generation technology as “digital transformation” permeates into manufacturing. In
welding, this principle aims to have a connectivity between the welding power source
and a central computer in which the variation of all the sensors’ data can be captured
over a network in real time. This has been termed as “remote monitoring” in general,
and “tele-welding” in case of welding. This is useful because it eliminates the physical
presence of human and local computers close to the machine area. The sensors’ data
will be stored remotely in the central computer over a network which can be accessed
by multiple users simultaneously. This data can be utilized for online tracking of the
welding process. Thus, several welding machines on a machine shop floor can be
connected to one such central database which would help in assessing the entire shop
floor’s data in one platform. Hence, this principle bridges the machines, sensors, and
humans in one tie over a network.
Fig. 8.8 Design and operating principles of Industry 4.0 and their utility in welding