Opinion
Our future ...
... dear readers, we are shaping the future with everything we do and fail to do today. Every day we hear and read countless times that the future will be digital, networked, intelligent, innovative and smart. Industry 4.0 is the future. When a term takes on a life of its own, throws all automation technology innovations into the same pot and gallops up and down without restraint, it loses credibility and seems like a major economic stimulus program.
We are excited to see what picture of the future Automatica paints for us. The leading marketplace for automated production, as the Munich trade fair organizers call their event, brings together the world's largest range of industrial and service robotics, assembly systems, industrial image processing systems and components. We are looking forward to it! Many company announcements refer to Industry 4.0 - even if the bridge sometimes seems very shaky. To describe the interaction of mechanics, electronics and software - even if it is intelligent - as implemented Industry 4.0 is clearly an exaggeration; we have known classic mechatronics for many years. It's true that digitalization is gradually changing the world in all areas of everyday life and industrial production. In which, in my opinion, people still have to take center stage. The future starts with the employees. It is based on employees who are well trained, highly motivated, allowed to think for themselves, want to shape things, are capable of analysis, are valued and enjoy their work. These employees are the foundation of our competitiveness and our future prosperity.
So let's refrain from subsuming everything and anything under the term Industry 4.0. Rather, let's clarify exactly what the potential of digital networking is and uncover this treasure!
Automatica aims to provide business-relevant knowledge and valuable orientation. I hope that you and we all succeed in this.
Best regards from the handling editorial team,
Your
Petra Born
Editor-in-Chief handling
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