Home Page/Public Lecture Series/Industry 4.0 and the High Ground of Global Industries Competition: Smart Industries Jie Wang
Industry 4.0 and the High Ground of Global Industries Competition: Smart Industries Jie Wang
Author：王捷 Source：深圳创新发展研究院 Date：2016-07-04
On the morning of June 28, 2016, Dr. Jie Wang, Visiting Professor of the Stanford University and the Executive Director of Stanford Center for Sustainable Development and Global Competitiveness visited Shenzhen Innovation and Development Institution and delivered a speech titled “Industry 4.0 and the High Ground of Global Industries Competition: Smart Industries”. Dr. Wang shared his insights on the background and development of Industry 4.0, specifically on the historical background and critical technologies of Industry 4.0, past and current experiences, smart manufacturing, as well as ideas on developing relevant talents.
He started by pointing to a 2013 McKinsey Global Institute report, which stated that the economic value of mobile internet is estimated to reach USD 3.5 trillion to USD 11 trillion in the future, with a wide range of uncertainty in the final figure; while that of “automation of knowledge work” is estimated – with a certain level of confidence – to reach USD 5 trillion to USD 7 trillion. Should the estimation of McKinsey become reality, “automation of knowledge work” would be the direction of the future. Dr. Wang suggested that “artificial intelligence” would be another trend under Industry 4.0. “Artificial intelligence” refers to machine learning processes, which is equipped with pioneering capability, high adaptability, and a recursive self-evolving mechanism. Capacity for sustained innovations would be built upon these foundations.
As for when would China implement “Industry 4.0”, Dr. Wang pointed to the supply-side reforms, which would boost the industrial capability. This is especially important for smart products, which requires an advanced industry value-chain and a high competiveness level in the global arena, entailing a high quality and a low price. Before rolling out Industry 4.0, China should scrutinise its issues with simulation, and explore the benefits of “Industry 4.0” with small-scale researches and experiments. Based on that, we can then consider if we can employ the technologies under Industry 4.0. Dr. Wang stressed on how great companies in Shenzhen can benefit from Industry 4.0, like Huawei, “Specifically, it is how factories and industry clusters come together and manufacture new products, and in turn improve product quality and their consumer retention rate. They should be practical and realistic, and seize the opportunities to further improve themselves.”
When it comes to nurturing talents for Industry 4.0, Dr. Wang suggested that, in contrast to popular belief, the number of innovative talents is not necessarily proportional to the level of business innovations, according to the studies on Big Data and “artificial intelligence”. Every enterprise has its distinct characteristics that innovation level should be supported – in most circumstances – in accordance to its resources and talents. Under the backdrop of Industry 4.0, human resources management should take up new methods and ideas, notably “artificial intelligence”, discovering solutions with pioneering capability, high adaptability, and a recursive self-evolving mechanism.
As a final remark, Dr. Wang suggested that Shenzhen has been the leader of China’s rapid development, and is built upon a strong foundation. He wishes to engage the Shenzhen authority, businesses, and research community, and jumpstart Industry 4.0 in Shenzhen.
He started by pointing to a 2013 McKinsey Global Institute report, which stated that the economic value of mobile internet is estimated to reach USD 3.5 trillion to USD 11 trillion in the future, with a wide range of uncertainty in the final figure; while that of “automation of knowledge work” is estimated – with a certain level of confidence – to reach USD 5 trillion to USD 7 trillion. Should the estimation of McKinsey become reality, “automation of knowledge work” would be the direction of the future. Dr. Wang suggested that “artificial intelligence” would be another trend under Industry 4.0. “Artificial intelligence” refers to machine learning processes, which is equipped with pioneering capability, high adaptability, and a recursive self-evolving mechanism. Capacity for sustained innovations would be built upon these foundations.
As for when would China implement “Industry 4.0”, Dr. Wang pointed to the supply-side reforms, which would boost the industrial capability. This is especially important for smart products, which requires an advanced industry value-chain and a high competiveness level in the global arena, entailing a high quality and a low price. Before rolling out Industry 4.0, China should scrutinise its issues with simulation, and explore the benefits of “Industry 4.0” with small-scale researches and experiments. Based on that, we can then consider if we can employ the technologies under Industry 4.0. Dr. Wang stressed on how great companies in Shenzhen can benefit from Industry 4.0, like Huawei, “Specifically, it is how factories and industry clusters come together and manufacture new products, and in turn improve product quality and their consumer retention rate. They should be practical and realistic, and seize the opportunities to further improve themselves.”
When it comes to nurturing talents for Industry 4.0, Dr. Wang suggested that, in contrast to popular belief, the number of innovative talents is not necessarily proportional to the level of business innovations, according to the studies on Big Data and “artificial intelligence”. Every enterprise has its distinct characteristics that innovation level should be supported – in most circumstances – in accordance to its resources and talents. Under the backdrop of Industry 4.0, human resources management should take up new methods and ideas, notably “artificial intelligence”, discovering solutions with pioneering capability, high adaptability, and a recursive self-evolving mechanism.
As a final remark, Dr. Wang suggested that Shenzhen has been the leader of China’s rapid development, and is built upon a strong foundation. He wishes to engage the Shenzhen authority, businesses, and research community, and jumpstart Industry 4.0 in Shenzhen.
