For Continental smarter machines are not options but necessity
The Indian automotive industry is poised for the next big change. The fourth industrial revolution (Industry 4.0) is here, as the world begins to focus more on energy-efficient, safe, and connected automotive solutions.
In India, and across the world, several industries in manufacturing are at various stages of embracing this trend. This trend, in simple terms, is the utilisation of the most modern technologies to transform industrial processes to improve efficiency, productivity, costs and the value to customer.
As a technology company, Continental believes that smarter machines are not options – they are a necessity.
Globally, Continental has been one of the first companies to adopt Industry 4.0, ensuring smarter, more efficient production processes and practices. The transformation to Industry 4.0, is, however, not an overnight task. One must take into account the machines, manufacturing processes, upskilling workforce etc. that need to be digitised. This further draws to the fact that such transformations are capital and effort-intensive, hence the attention on ROI is magnified. The automotive industry is in the front run to embrace Industry 4.0, adding the quotient of smartness to the manufacturing process.
To state an example, at Continental’s Central Electronics Plant in Bengaluru, we took a steady approach towards Industry 4.0, by introducing COBOT. COBOT is the collaborative robots deployed to work in a human-
machine team environment. Unlike traditional industrial robots, the COBOT works seamlessly with operators, sharing mutual work spaces. It is intended to assist with complex and repetitive tasks, thereby relieving operators to focus on more precision or productive jobs, while monitoring all quality aspects of production. Such established process aide zeroerror strategy and add boon to the production output with minimum energy consumption and low emissions. With a global network of Industry 4.0 competence centers, Continental creates platforms to exchange knowledge and prepare for the wider use of new production technologies. We believe that constant skill upgradation is critical for growth. All employees undergo regular training programmes that enable them to grow further in their area of choice. Employees at all levels, from shop floor or top-level executive, must go through continuous learning process. Without which, humans, products, technologies, organisations or brands are going to fall in the pit of obsolescence. When artificial intelligence makes human intervention unnecessary in some areas, humans will take up more sophisticated roles such as designing algorithms for complex processes to fix the increasingly complex machines and their software systems.
Additionally, implementation of Industry 4.0 standards across centres helps us develop knowledge further and implement targets. From a skill development and workforce perspective, this has enabled manufacturing workers become enhancers and ‘cloud’ workers. It helps improve ergonomics and safety, while making room for flexible working schedules.
The AI industry is forecasted to become larger than the automotive industry of today. This is because automobile will become a computer on wheels or a robot. There will be a constant verbal interfacing with the machine such as instructing to drive on certain route, pick a parking or mere conversation.
In order to secure the future of the business we must always be ready to adapt and change. To envision such scenario in the market we must offer our best products. The smart use of the technologies available or in development will create the competitive advantage among the players in the same market. It is possible that industry will lead to junctures where various technologies will come together to create new segments and turning others obsolete, as it happened with steam engines when diesel engines were introduced. At Continental we are using the ever-expanding possibilities of digitisation to create intelligent solutions for new mobility solutions, information management, technologies for increased road safety, more fuel-efficient drive systems, etc. If technology improves comfort and convenience, along with non-negotiable topics like safety and clean air, it must be explored further. Continental believes in promoting all these technologies.