This fourth industrial revolution began from the beginning of this 21 st century. During the fourth industrial revolution, Information Technology (IT) was infused in manufacturing field.
During the third industrial revolution, electrical motors were used to drive machines for manufacturing products. During the second industrial revolution, steam engines were produced to run machines and produce the products. During the first industrial revolution, machines were produced to manufacture products. A study of the history indicates that the world witnessed the emergence of different paradigms due to the appearance of four industrial revolutions. In other words, the product design should be compatible with the various paradigms that have been emerging in the world to meet different kinds of customer requirements. This development indicated that the products need to be designed to suit the behavioral pattern of not only the factories but also the humans and societies. Because of this situation, the behavioral patterns of factories, humans and societies changed. This kind of situation began to change when the world witnessed the intensification of competition. During these many centuries, the man designed millions of products which changed the behavioral patterns of factories, humans and societies. This phenomenon has been happening in the world through all the centuries that have passed after humans became designers. This act would have changed the behavioral pattern of hunting for preys and eating habits of the humans who used those preys. After manufacturing those weapons, the productivity and quality of catching preys by the humans would have been increased. As soon as the designing of this stone made weapon would have been completed, humans would have started the manufacturing of such stone made weapons. One of the earliest product design activity might be the changing of the shape of the stones to develop weapons to kill animals as prey for humans. Product design would have been the first design of any manufacturing activity. INTRODUCTION Right from the days when man became engineer, product design has been playing a crucial role in changing the behavioral patterns of factories, humans and societies. This challenge is addressed in this article by indicating the actions to be executed for this purpose and presenting a case study. The major challenge is that the designing of products has to be carried out to tune with the requirements of the Industry 4.0 requirements. Though accomplishment of this goal is going to help the industries to flourish, attaining this goal is going to be a challenge. Obviously, this derivation implies that application of Industry 4.0 will enable the companies to implement agile manufacturing paradigm by acquiring agility. Mass customization is an outcome of implementing agile manufacturing paradigm. By implementing industry 4.0 enablers, mass customization is achieved. This kind of facility will enable companies to design and manufacture products for supplying to the individual customers.
Industry 4.0 demands the aggressive implementation of IT and communication devices and infrastructure to integrate machines in the factories so as to execute the operations with the characteristics namely interoperability and flexibility at unimaginable high speed.
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