Many hear the term Industry 4.0 and envision vast wind farms with digitally-connected machinery doing complex computations. And it is that, potentially. But there is another layer to 4.0 much closer to humans. It is about the interplay among workers, data, sensor technology and robots improving productivity from large factories to small businesses.

“With industry 4.0, we’re putting real-time data acquisition on the factory floor,” said Dr. Samer Aljishi (pictured), president of BFG International.

An industrial firm based in Bahrain, BFG manufactures architectural components such as facades and building envelopes. Lately, it has been using “internet of things” connected devices, sensors, cameras and operator-measurement systems to optimize worker productivity and product quality. The business is experiencing how real-time optimization can alter work like nothing that’s come before, he said.

Aljishi spoke with John Furrier (@furrier), host of theCUBE, SiliconANGLE Media’s mobile livestreaming studio, during the AWS Summit event in Bahrain. They discussed the technologies heralding industry 4.0, as well as what is lacking in the market for workplace robotics and data analytics. (* Disclosure below.)

Meet the new boss — it’s a computer

All of the devices that collect data — image sensors, cameras, etc. — can suggest actions for improved productivity, Aljishi said.

“The computer will actually see that the particular operator has done something in a different way, it resulted in an improvement, it in itself can go and change that operating procedure.”

The technologies that enable industry 4.0, particularly robots, could go a lot further than they have thus far, Aljishi said. But it’s a work in progress.

“We’re discovering that the robots aren’t very connected,” he said. “The programming of the robots doesn’t enable you to develop them or to connect them or to implement industry 4.0 on them.”

Specifically, we need advances in robot programming languages in order to fine-tune them for work, something Microsoft Corp. appears to have a head start in according to Aljishi. “The technology’s developing so quickly that I think a lot of these challenges will disappear in a couple of years.”

There is tremendous potential to extend industry 4.0 to medium and small businesses, he believes. Those that rely on human know-how to produce limited series or parts can essentially box that know-how. “And you’ll be able to transport it anywhere in the world and be able to localize or become international very quickly.”

Watch the complete video interview below, and be sure to check out more of SiliconANGLE’s and theCUBE’s coverage of the AWS Summit Bahrain event. (* Disclosure: TheCUBE is a paid media partner for AWS Summit Bahrain 2018. Neither Amazon Web Services Inc. and the Bahrain Economic Development Board, the event sponsors, nor other sponsors have editorial control over content on theCUBE or SiliconANGLE.)

Photo: SiliconANGLE