Challenges and Issues of ICT in Industry 4.0

Abstract

Information and communication technology continues to positively impact many stages of the manufacturing environment. Intelligence is about to be shared from the start to the end of the supply chain. Internet of Things (IoT) is adding intelligence to endpoints, big data are becoming the new way of running a business and Cloud Computing (CC) is becoming a new data center. The advancement that this technology brings to manufacturing is fundamentally changing individual companies and transforming market dynamics. The fourth industrial revolution (Industry 4.0) is all about including contemporary technologies for processes of automation and real-time data exchange in manufacturing organizations. This paper represents the basis for designing the communication layer of the ecosystem’s value chain depending on the usage scenario within the Industry 4.0 concept. Also, depending on the usage scenario, different service classes are grouped and coverage of the currently available communication networks in the Republic of Croatia is shown. Characteristics and capabilities of Industry 4.0 offer efficient business in the fields of logistics, manufacturing, tourism and smart cities. Also, with increased connectivity it is possible to build smarter supply chains, processes and end-to-end ecosystems.