ABSTRACT
This chapter provides an introduction to the fourth industrial revolution (Industry 4.0) in general and digital automation platforms in particular. It illustrates the main drivers behind Industry 4.0 and presents some of the most prominent use cases. In the era of globalization, industrial organizations are under continuous pressure to innovate, improve their competitiveness and perform better than their competitors in the global market. Cyber-Physical Systems systems facilitate the connection between the physical world of machines, industrial automation devices and Operational Technology, with the world of computers, cloud data centres and Information Technology (IT). Industry 4.0 is largely about the introduction of CPS systems in the shopfloor, in order to digitally interconnect the machines and the OT technology with IT systems such as Enterprise Resource Planning, Computerized Maintenance Management, Manufacturing Execution Systems and Customer Relationship Management, Supply Chain Management systems.
