Exponential Disruptive Technologies and the Required Skills of Industry 4.0

The 21st century has witnessed precipitous changes spanning from the way of life to the technologies that emerged. We have entered a nascent paradigm shift (industry 4.0) where science fictions have become science facts, and technology fusion is the main driver. Thus, ensuring that any advancement i...

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Main Authors: Ocident Bongomin, Gilbert Gilibrays Ocen, Eric Oyondi Nganyi, Alex Musinguzi, Timothy Omara
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2020-01-01
Series:Journal of Engineering
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2020/4280156
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author Ocident Bongomin
Gilbert Gilibrays Ocen
Eric Oyondi Nganyi
Alex Musinguzi
Timothy Omara
author_facet Ocident Bongomin
Gilbert Gilibrays Ocen
Eric Oyondi Nganyi
Alex Musinguzi
Timothy Omara
author_sort Ocident Bongomin
collection DOAJ
description The 21st century has witnessed precipitous changes spanning from the way of life to the technologies that emerged. We have entered a nascent paradigm shift (industry 4.0) where science fictions have become science facts, and technology fusion is the main driver. Thus, ensuring that any advancement in technology reach and benefit all is the ideal opportunity for everyone. In this study, disruptive technologies of industry 4.0 were explored and quantified in terms of the number of their appearances in published literature. The study aimed at identifying industry 4.0 key technologies which have been ill-defined by previous researchers and to enumerate the required skills of industry 4.0. Comprehensive literature survey covering the field of engineering, production, and management was done in multidisciplinary databases: Google Scholar, Science Direct, Scopus, Sage, Taylor & Francis, and Emerald Insight. From the electronic survey, 35 disruptive technologies were quantified and 13 key technologies: Internet of Things, Big Data, 3D printing, Cloud computing, Autonomous robots, Virtual and Augmented reality, Cyber-physical system, Artificial intelligence, Smart sensors, Simulation, Nanotechnology, Drones, and Biotechnology were identified. Both technical and personal skills to be imparted into the human workforce for industry 4.0 were reported. The review identified the need to investigate the capability and the readiness of developing countries in adapting industry 4.0 in terms of the changes in the education systems and industrial manufacturing settings. This study proposes the need to address the integration of industry 4.0 concepts into the current education system.
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spelling doaj-art-c3e1ad531b7142c880140edf7eb3254f2025-08-20T02:18:55ZengWileyJournal of Engineering2314-49042314-49122020-01-01202010.1155/2020/42801564280156Exponential Disruptive Technologies and the Required Skills of Industry 4.0Ocident Bongomin0Gilbert Gilibrays Ocen1Eric Oyondi Nganyi2Alex Musinguzi3Timothy Omara4Department of Manufacturing, Industrial and Textile Engineering, School of Engineering, Moi University, P.O. Box 3900-30100, Eldoret, KenyaDepartment of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Busitema University, P.O. Box 236, Tororo, UgandaDepartment of Manufacturing, Industrial and Textile Engineering, School of Engineering, Moi University, P.O. Box 3900-30100, Eldoret, KenyaDepartment of Manufacturing, Industrial and Textile Engineering, School of Engineering, Moi University, P.O. Box 3900-30100, Eldoret, KenyaDepartment of Chemistry and Biochemistry, School of Biological and Physical Sciences, Moi University, P.O. Box 3900-30100, Eldoret, KenyaThe 21st century has witnessed precipitous changes spanning from the way of life to the technologies that emerged. We have entered a nascent paradigm shift (industry 4.0) where science fictions have become science facts, and technology fusion is the main driver. Thus, ensuring that any advancement in technology reach and benefit all is the ideal opportunity for everyone. In this study, disruptive technologies of industry 4.0 were explored and quantified in terms of the number of their appearances in published literature. The study aimed at identifying industry 4.0 key technologies which have been ill-defined by previous researchers and to enumerate the required skills of industry 4.0. Comprehensive literature survey covering the field of engineering, production, and management was done in multidisciplinary databases: Google Scholar, Science Direct, Scopus, Sage, Taylor & Francis, and Emerald Insight. From the electronic survey, 35 disruptive technologies were quantified and 13 key technologies: Internet of Things, Big Data, 3D printing, Cloud computing, Autonomous robots, Virtual and Augmented reality, Cyber-physical system, Artificial intelligence, Smart sensors, Simulation, Nanotechnology, Drones, and Biotechnology were identified. Both technical and personal skills to be imparted into the human workforce for industry 4.0 were reported. The review identified the need to investigate the capability and the readiness of developing countries in adapting industry 4.0 in terms of the changes in the education systems and industrial manufacturing settings. This study proposes the need to address the integration of industry 4.0 concepts into the current education system.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2020/4280156
spellingShingle Ocident Bongomin
Gilbert Gilibrays Ocen
Eric Oyondi Nganyi
Alex Musinguzi
Timothy Omara
Exponential Disruptive Technologies and the Required Skills of Industry 4.0
Journal of Engineering
title Exponential Disruptive Technologies and the Required Skills of Industry 4.0
title_full Exponential Disruptive Technologies and the Required Skills of Industry 4.0
title_fullStr Exponential Disruptive Technologies and the Required Skills of Industry 4.0
title_full_unstemmed Exponential Disruptive Technologies and the Required Skills of Industry 4.0
title_short Exponential Disruptive Technologies and the Required Skills of Industry 4.0
title_sort exponential disruptive technologies and the required skills of industry 4 0
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2020/4280156
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