Our analysis of the automotive industry shows that leading players follow a clear strategy to drive the digitalization of manufacturing. First, they prioritize use cases to ensure that resources are focused on the ones that add the most value and are not scattered across many small activities throughout the company. Second, a dedicated digital manufacturing unit with a clear operating model ensures that the necessary capabilities and capacity are available to efficiently leverage the resources channeled into the prioritized use cases. Third, an IT/OT target landscape simplifies the rollout and subsequent maintenance of the implemented use cases. In combination, all three building blocks of this strategy mutually reinforce each other to maximize the efficiency of all digital manufacturing activities. In contrast, players that find themselves not progressing, or not fast enough, often lack one or more of these crucial elements. To these players, we recommend stepping back and taking the time to define or refine their “Industry 4.0” strategy. With an improved setup, they will regain momentum and quickly see positive results.
The current state of Industry 4.0 – What can other industries learn from leading automotive manufacturers?
