It is no secret that manufacturing is suffering from a shortage of skilled workers. Over the next 10 years, demand will create the need for 4.6 million jobs — over half of which risk going unfilled. To handle manufacturing’s digital transformation, the shortfall in qualified workers needs to be addressed.

In 1982, long before a cybersecurity threat to control system networks was widely recognised, a Trojan horse attack on control system software reportedly caused a huge explosion in a Siberian gas pipeline. Even now, many systems that have been retrofitted for compatibility with the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) are not well protected.

Every plant has its unique lifecycle, which sees both equipment and employees evolve over time. Industry 4.0 has expedited this evolution, with new technologies leading to increased productivity, improved efficiency and decreased costs.

Engineering giant Rolls Royce pioneered servitisation in 1962 with its Power-by-the-Hour approach to jet engine maintenance management. The service, which allows operators to purchase the power used rather than a complete engine, celebrated its 55th year in 2017 and has proven extremely popular in the aerospace market.

Japan faces a unique power delivery challenge because of its two entirely incompatible power grids. The odd system is a legacy from the 19th Century, when local providers In Osaka used 60Hz generators, while German equipment purchased in Tokyo worked on a frequency of 50Hz.

Virtual technology has been around for almost half a century, with industries such as entertainment, education and design all incorporating varying aspects. However, it has only been in the past five years where Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR)

It’s no longer a question of whether your business will be attacked, but rather when it will be attacked. Cyber attacks, particularly those on public sector and utility businesses, are now a regular, often daily occurrence.

Industrial systems integrator, Boulting Technology, has announced a new alliance with NETbuilder, a provider of software and IT consulting services. The alliance will enable Boulting to provide UK clients across manufacturing, process and other industries with a full suite of end-to-end digitalisation services.