Page 6 - Engineering in Kenya Mag

The transformation towards Industry 4.0 will involve retrofitting existing industrialized systems with Industry 4.0 technologies that could provide more sustainable solutions. Standardization, partnerships, and responsible policy design are all ways that lead up to maximizing the economic, social and environmental potentials of Industry 4.0.
Industry 4.0: An excellent opportunity for Kenya and the world
WE welcome you to the second edition of Engineering In Kenya. The theme of this edition is Industry 4.0. Industry 4.0 is the Fourth Industrial Revolution. It encompasses the automation of conventional
manufacturing and industrial practices. It uses modern smart technology. Large-scale Machine to Machine Communication (M2M) and the Internet of Things (IoT) are used together to increased automation, improve communication and self- monitoring, and the production of smart machines that can analyse and diagnose issues without the need for human intervention. Engineers will play a major role in Industry 4.0.
Industry 4.0 could contribute to finding new ways of dealing with major global challenges, such as climate change, lack of clean energy access, economic stagnation and reducing the digital divide. Engineers will play a major role in Industry 4.0.
The world has benefitted positively from the previous three previous industrial revolutions.
The First Industrial Revolution started in England in late 1700s. It led to a transition from hand production methods to machines through the use of steam power and water power. It took full effect in Western Europe and USA by mid 1800s.
The Second Industrial Revolution, also occurred first in Western Europe, USA and Japan in the period between mid 1800s and early 1900s. This revolution resulted from installations of extensive railroad and telegraph networks, which allowed for faster transfer of people and ideas, as well as electricity.
Increasing electrification in the Second Industrial Revolution enabled factories to develop modern production lines. It was a period of great economic growth, with an increase in productivity.
The Third Industrial Revolution, also known as the Digital Revolution, occurred in the late mid to late 1900s. It occurred in Europe, USA, Japan and the newly industrial countries such as China, Korea and Singapore. This revolution was led mainly by microelectronics. This revolution led to the development and popularization of supercomputers, personal computers, the internet, mobile communication systems and digital manufacturing.
Vision 2030 sees agriculture as an important sector for the industrialization of Keya. Industry 4.0 uses smart sensors in farms and greenhouses to enable more efficient and effective inputs of water, fertilizer and other chemicals, by drones and other devices, as well as timely harvest of crops. In animal production, the sensors allow for targeted administration of feed and medicines leading to better yields and profits.
In engineering design and infrastructure Industry 4.0 has the potential advantage bringing about faster construction, lower labour costs, increased complexity and/or accuracy, greater integration of function, and less waste produced. 3D printing has great potential here.
There are a variety of 3D printing methods used at construction scale, with the main ones being extrusion (concrete/ cement, wax, foam, polymers, powder bonding (polymer bond, reactive bond, sintering, and additive welding. 3D printing at a construction scale will have a wide variety of applications within the private, commercial, industrial and public sectors.
In manufacturing, industry 4.0 gives us real opportunities in increasing effectiveness and efficiency leading to better micro- economics in factories. Smart modular factories, and cyber- physical systems monitor physical processes, can create virtual copies of the physical world and make decentralized decisions.
The internet of things(IoT) allows for communication between machines and also humans throughout the value chain of manufacturing leading to better systems.
Industry 4.0 can also provide predictive maintenance, due to the use of technology and the IoT sensors. Predictive maintenancee– which can identify maintenance issues in live– allows machine owners to perform cost-effective maintenance and determine it ahead of time before the machinery fails or gets damaged. An engineer in Nairobi can see in real-time, and correct, a machine which is malfunctioning in Wajir.
The transformation towards Industry 4.0 will involve retrofitting existing industrialized systems with Industry 4.0 technologies that could provide more sustainable solutions. Standardization, partnerships, and responsible policy design are all ways that lead up to maximizing the economic, social and environmental potentials of Industry 4.0.
Developing countries will have the opportunity to leapfrog stages which were taken by developed countries towards their industrialisation. The developing countries will effect this leapfrogging without repeating the mistakes of traditional development pathways.
Regions that are less developed can become candidates for the development of smart factories, decentralized and renewable energy microgrids There are exciting prospects for engineering and development of Kenya and the world in Industry 4.0.
We promise you that we will continue trying our best to inform, educate and entertain you!
Eng. Prof. Lawrence Gumbe, Editor
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Engineering in Kenya Magazine Issue 002
EDITOR'S NOTE
ENG. PROF. LAWRENCE GUMBE