In modern times, industry has rapidly moved through incarnations, from Industry 1.0, with the beginnings of mechanization, 2.0 adding electrical power and mass production, into 3.0, offering a world of automation, robotics, and IT systems. Now, with what is referred to as Industry 4.0, organizations are moving into the world of Big Data – and leveraging technology like IoT, AI, and smart factories. While organizations have been envisioning what they can do with newly emerging capabilities, as well as AI, IoT, and digital twins, implementing those technologies at scale has been a struggle. This is especially evident with the increased demand of data centers, a direct result of the growth in AI.
We then look at what is being called Industry 5.0 as a concept that builds upon Industry 4.0 by emphasizing human-centricity, sustainability, and resilience within industrial processes. It focuses on the collaborative interaction between humans and machines, promoting a more personalized and efficient production model while also prioritizing environmental responsibility and the well-being of workers.
PTG has a different philosophy and approach to the interaction between man-and-machine especially as it applies to large complex facilities such as data centers, chip manufacturing facilities and really any facility where power, data and processes are moving at light speed and where it is possible to truly automate and work machine to machine. The lack of a skilled labor force, costs and simple human error reinforce this change in direction. It is warranted; it is necessary. Enter Industry 6.0.
A New Approach
The Power Technology Group (PTG), a large facility technology developer, has braced and been part of Industry 4.0 by developing AI-based power control systems, and is now at the forefront in new technology development to what we now refer to as “Industry 6.0”