Digitalisation of Industrial Environments

The digitalisation of industrial environments refers to the systematic transformation of traditional industrial operations, infrastructure, and processes into digital systems using technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT), cloud computing, artificial intelligence (AI), and automation platforms. This transition forms the foundation of smart manufacturing and Industry 4.0.

Digitalisation involves the integration of sensors, connected devices, data platforms and analytics tools into production and maintenance environments. Data is continuously collected from machinery, systems, and workflows, enabling:

• Real-time monitoring of operational status and performance
• Predictive maintenance based on condition data and machine learning
• Digital twins, offering virtual replicas of physical assets and systems
• Remote operation and visualisation, often through XR and mobile tools

Digitalised environments use interoperable information systems and APIs to connect enterprise systems such as ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning), MES (Manufacturing Execution Systems), and SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition).

Benefits

• Improved production efficiency and process optimisation
• Increased safety through automated alerts and reduced need for manual inspection
• Greater flexibility in customising production workflows
• Cost savings and reduced energy or material waste
• Enhanced decision-making through data-driven insights

Digitalisation is widely applied in sectors such as manufacturing, energy production, logistics, and infrastructure management. It enables scalable automation, facilitates sustainability initiatives, and is key to implementing intelligent asset management, remote diagnostics, and lifecycle optimisation.

See also: IIoT, Real-time monitoring, Data model