Industry Updates
How Industry 4.0 is reshaping air-conditioning
Adapting in industry 4.0 in the air-conditioning sector
Industry 4.0 is the holistic connection of people, machines, and objects, alongside information and communication technology (ICT) systems. Powering this digital revolution, we find transformative tools otherwise known as smart technology.
When you search the term ‘industry 4.0 in manufacturing’ online, you will find hundreds of articles articulating how technology is transforming production lines and supply chains. Yet, rarely do you find articles reflecting on how to Move the World Forward with ‘smarter’ practices across the value chain.
While our operating environment, products and communications become smarter to reflect this shifting paradigm. We share our thoughts and opinions on how to adapt to industry 4.0 in the air-conditioning sector.
1. Smarter eco-system
MHI Future Stream
Now more than ever, the lines between the physical and digital worlds are blurring. Manufacturing companies are operating in an environment becoming increasingly more virtual, intelligent, and complex.
While the external business environment becomes smarter, the internal environment must react in unison to create an integrated smart eco-system.
Take for instance the MHI Future Stream program that sets to innovate its corporate collaborations, internal infrastructures, and reinforce the competitiveness of its business by:
- Mega scanning: Explore all realms of strategic future opportunities
- Shifting the path: Convert existing business to respond to emergent trends
- Technology scouting: Explore innovative technologies
2. Smarter products
Products become smarter when they can either self-process, store data, communicate or interact within the industrial ecosystem. Such solutions are an inherent factor in industry 4.0.
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) Group is continuously utilising technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) technology to innovate products and the production process. As well as big data to analyse and enhance the procurement operations process.
Here at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Air-Conditioning Europe, Ltd. (MHIAE), we leverage strategic approaches such as scenario analysis and technological forecasting to anticipate future scenarios to enhance our product portfolio.
In order to solidify the ‘bridge into the future’, we engage in virtual round-table discussions with stakeholders and employees to investigate trends, foresee new technologies and potential scientific discoveries to enhance our strategic planning.
Likewise, we have implemented autonomous technology into our residential and commercial solutions with the use of motion sensors to allow our air-conditioners to enter different operating modes based on room activity.
Nevertheless, as the external landscape becomes smarter, manufacturers face increasing strategic paradoxes between sustainability and innovation. However, by shifting the path, manufacturers can grasp competitive advantages by responding to emerging sustainability trends by advancing business solutions.
Take for instance, in 2017 when we became the first manufacturer to use CO2 as a refrigerant in our Q-ton air-to-water heat pump. We reacted to a smart and sustainable ecosystem with an advanced technical engineering solution.
3. Smarter Communication
While smart products communicate together, people within businesses have to communicate strategically by incorporating connectivity, intelligence and flexible automation.
The Covid-19 pandemic has shifted the way businesses across the world interact and communicate with their stakeholders. Organisations need to leverage technological opportunities in industry 4.0 to maintain current relationships and create new connections.
As a global manufacturer, we have always used technology to connect across the world to our stakeholders – navigating through different time zones, intercultural, and communication differences.
However, like millions of companies across the world, we have had to leverage the power of technology to improve within the new ecosystem. This includes refining our corporate communication strategy and digitalising processes to support virtual relationships.
From our production line to our digital marketing, we are enhancing our communications by providing multiple touchpoints to drive connections as well as digital flexibility across our social and digital networks.
