With research from Michigan and Canadian universities, Automation Alley’s latest report is designed to take Industry 4.0 stakeholders from vision to implementation

CONTACT: Nicole Kampe, Automation Alley, kampen@automationalley.com, 248.457.3301; Barbara Fornasiero, EAFocus Communications, barbara@eafocus.com, 248.260.8466

TROY, Mich.— Feb. 12, 2019 — Automation Alley, Michigan’s Industry 4.0 knowledge center, is bringing back its collaborative team of academic and corporate partners to create a data-rich guide to Industry 4.0 implementation, to be released April 29 at the Detroit Institute of Arts.

Building on the research team’s work from the 2018 report, Automation Alley’s 2019 Technology in Industry Report, titled “From Vision to Implementation,” is designed to help manufacturers keep pace with rapid technological change and will include case studies of Industry 4.0 adoption strategies, emerging trends, challenges, opportunities, action items and workforce implications. New to the report this year is the Velocity Index™, which illustrates the maturity of each Industry 4.0 technology and its expected rate of growth to determine the risks associated with investment. Research will center on the eight core technologies of Industry 4.0, including the Industrial Internet of Things, robotics, artificial intelligence, Big Data, cloud computing, cybersecurity, advanced materials and additive manufacturing, and modeling, simulation, visualization and immersion.

Academic research partners returning this year include University of Detroit Mercy, Lawrence Technological University, Central Michigan University, Oakland University, Baker College, Macomb Community College and Oakland Community College. New to the research team for 2019 are Michigan Technological University, Walsh College, Henry Ford College and Windsor’s St. Clair College. Ford Motor Company is once again backing the report research with funding and providing corporate insight. Other partners include Bosch, Intel, Michigan Manufacturing Technology Center, TTI Success Insights, Plante Moran and RSM, all providing guidance through peer review and industry-specific feedback.

“The strength of this report is cross-industry knowledge, which has been forged by a collaborative spirit. We have expert voices from both academia and industry working together to ensure we are prepared for what’s next on our nation’s factory floors,” said Tom Kelly, Automation Alley executive director and CEO. “That’s at the heart of what we do at Automation Alley and it’s critical here in Michigan that all manufacturers along the supply chain take action on Industry 4.0 now or lose their place to other manufacturers who do.”

Automation Alley’s 2019 Technology in Industry Report will be released at Automation Alley’s Technology in Industry Reveal, April 29, from 8-11:30 a.m., at the Detroit Institute of Arts, where attendees will receive a free copy of the report. At the Reveal, hundreds of technology and manufacturing professionals will enjoy a strolling breakfast as they network and explore a Smart Technology Expo featuring the latest Industry 4.0 innovations. There will also be a series of tech talks in Rivera Court and a discussion on the Technology in Industry Report’s key takeaways.

Automation Alley’s Technology in Industry Reveal comes on the heels of Automation Alley’s second sold-out, global Industry 4.0 conference, Integr8™, that attracted over 800 industry experts to Detroit in November.

“Automation Alley’s mission is to lead the charge in Industry 4.0 in Michigan for our members, as well as our state’s strong manufacturing ecosystem. Our goal is to keep our manufacturers ahead of the curve as technology transforms industry. This report is a compendium of actionable information to take the next step in achieving that goal,” Kelly said.

To register for the Technology in Industry Reveal, visit automationalley.com/techreveal. For information on sponsorship opportunities related to the Technology in Industry Report and Technology in Industry Reveal, contact Kristin O’Neill oneillk@automationalley.com.

About Automation Alley

Automation Alley  is a nonprofit technology and manufacturing business association and Michigan’s Industry 4.0 knowledge center, with a global outlook and a regional focus. We connect industry, academia and government to fuel Michigan’s economy and accelerate innovation. We offer programs and services in business growth, entrepreneurship, talent development, defense and international business, providing resources and knowledge to help our members grow and prosper in the digital age.

Our Mission

The mission of Automation Alley is to position Michigan as a global leader in Industry 4.0 by helping our members increase revenue, reduce costs and think strategically during a time of rapid technological change.

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