Accelerating Industry 4.0 through trusted certification
Fulfilling the vision and goals of Industry 4.0
Standing at the threshold of the fourth industrial revolution, the global economy is evolving rapidly into an era of smart manufacturing. China’s manufacturing industry is also reaping the rewards of this digital transformation. A key investment focus of TÜV SÜD is on the digital transformation of its core businesses, and exploration of new services and business models.
TÜV SÜD’s Digital Service Centers of Excellence in Singapore and Munich are leading the rollout and promotion of the company’s digital initiatives. An example of such initiatives is the Singapore Smart Industry Readiness Index, launched by the Singapore Economic Development Board with TÜV SÜD last year. The index is a diagnostic tool that companies across all industries and of all sizes can use to better understand Industry 4.0 concepts, evaluate the current state of their facilities, design a comprehensive transformation roadmap and deliver concrete, sustained value for their businesses.
For Chinese companies, the index can be utilized to identify their smart manufacturing readiness, as well as carrying out sustainable development and improvement.
Unlocking the potential of robotic innovation
Robots are a significant component for the implementation of Industry 4.0 transformation. In 2013, China overtook Japan for the first time as the country buying the largest number of industrial robots annually, and has maintained its status as the largest applications market in the world.
With the development of smart manufacturing in China and the incentives put in place, the robotics market will unlock huge potential. Technological advancements have made it possible to build increasingly more sophisticated and complex robots, but the real challenge is in safety with collaborative robots: specifically, the interface between human workers and machines. To solve this problem, robot safety evaluations and certifications will play an indispensable role.
Aware of the vital importance of safety for the wide adoption of robotics in the market, TÜV SÜD offers a comprehensive portfolio of robotic safety testing, inspection and certification services according to national and international regulations, thereby assisting Chinese enterprises to enter global markets. For example, TÜV SÜD issued the CE marking of Automatic Guided Vehicle system for Chinese companies, a mandatory legal conformity requirement for all products to access markets within the European Union.
Additionally, TÜV SÜD has promoted the industry’s development by cooperating closely with Chinese partners. In December 2017, TÜV SÜD, the National Robot Testing and Assessment Center and the China Robot Inspection Certification Alliance signed an MOU (memorandum of understanding) to establish in-depth cooperation in testing, certification and training with the goal to promote domestic robotic certification programs. In March this year, TÜV SÜD also signed a strategic cooperation agreement with the Shenyang Institute of Automation of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, initiating joint efforts in robotics standardization, and research and development, as well as the development of China’s smart manufacturing and artificial intelligence industries.
Gearing up for the safety of autonomous driving
The public is still cautious about autonomous driving, while the technology develops rapidly. A poll conducted by TÜV SÜD found that 30 percent of respondents thought autonomous driving was “safe” or “very safe”, even as others thought the technology was “somewhat unsafe” (18 percent) or even “unsafe” (24 percent), respectively. In addition to tackling the challenges of relevant technology, steps can be taken to accelerate the development of autonomous driving. For example, inspections of vehicle self-management ability, safety evaluation standards creation, and the establishment of legal and insurance claims. The public will only trust and embrace the future of autonomous if the technology is proven safe.
In September 2018, the Asia Secretary of Global ICV Testing and Demonstration Alliance was established, with TÜV SÜD as a founding member. This alliance will focus on connecting the open and closed testing platforms of intelligent connected vehicles worldwide, sharing testing methods and data, and testing systems and equipment.
In November 2017, TÜV SÜD assisted the first driverless passenger car, the EasyMile EZ10, to obtain type approval. In addition, TÜV SÜD is working with the German Artificial Intelligence Research Center to design an open research and development platform. As a member of the German Federation of Technical Supervision Association, TÜV SÜD has developed an automotive platform solution that enables the safe, manufacturer-independent and anonymous handling of data through modern vehicle-mounted systems. At the same time, TÜV SÜD developed the first safety concept for driverless passenger vehicles, laying the foundation for its research and development of autonomous driving in the field of public transport.
Safety is key to the success of autonomous driving, while batteries are another driving force of its development. In 2016, TÜV SÜD certified the ECE R100 domestic product, indicating that the product comprehensively meets the safety requirements of the European Economic Community for onboard battery products.
Like traditional fuel vehicles, new energy vehicles are also subjected to regular inspection. TÜV SÜD provides a comprehensive set of solutions for NEVs which includes legislation and standard consultation, vehicle inspections as well as certification. Over the next two years, TÜV SÜD plans to build three new battery testing centers in China. These centers will complement its existing global laboratory network.