Sino-German Industry 4.0: perspectives gathered in Sanlongwan for digital upgrading

On November 3, as an important session to kickstart the Sino-German Industry 4.0 Training Project, namely, Industry 4.0 for Management of Intelligent Manufacturing Enterprise, a sharing session was held at Foshan Robotics Institute, bringing together some of the experts from industries and colleges. The event mainly focused on three aspects concerning Industry 4.0 - self-assessment on Industry 4.0 potentials, 4 major themes on Industry 4.0 and projections of Industry 4.0.

Brought up for the first time at the Hannover Industry Fair in 2013, Industry 4.0 leads the 4th industrial revolution characterized by intelligent manufacturing. The concept was given a great deal of spotlight for this time around, as the conference has invited not only some international big names, such as SIAP, TüV Rhein Institute, Festo, the Global Advanced Manufacturing Institute (GAMI) of Karlsruhe Institute of Technology in Germany, but also senior researchers from Tongji University. Based on their industrial or researching experience, ideas and thoughts burst out about how local enterprises in Foshan can gain successful digital upgrading in a systematic way.

Reportedly, Sino-German Industry 4.0 Training Project was piloted on October 15 in Foshan, the one and only city in Guangdong Province chosen for the project. The training project was held jointly by GIZ and Management Committee for Foshan Sino-German Industrial Service Zone (Sanlongwan). With the latest technological support, the training courses were able to proceed both online and offline in multiple citieslike Foshan, Shenyang, Kunshan, Chengdu.

Under the framework of the developPPP established by the German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), Sino-German Industry 4.0 Training Project aims to foster a digital manufacturing environment and improve vocational skills for those working in manufacturing sectors.

According to Zhu Xixiong, Deputy Director of Management Committee of Foshan Sino-German Industrial Service Zone (Sanlongwan), Sino-German Industry 4.0 Training Project and upcoming industry 4.0 training are good ways to improve communication between Foshan and Germany. They help develop more competitive local manufacturing employees, and more importantly, highlight the importance of Industry 4.0 among Foshan enterprises. Hopefully, the event can provide more constructive views on digital upgrading of manufacturing in Foshan.