Industry 4.0
Industry 4.0 is the fourth industrial revolution: connecting machines, sensors, data and analytics across the factory so production becomes smart, automated and data-driven. It spans IIoT, digital twins, AI, robotics and cloud/edge computing.
Industry 4.0 describes the shift from automated-but-isolated machines to connected, data-rich production systems. Core building blocks include industrial IoT sensors, historians and data platforms, digital twins, machine learning, advanced robotics and edge/cloud computing. The goal is real-time visibility and decision-making — higher uptime, quality and efficiency — rather than technology for its own sake.
Related terms
Industrial IoT (IIoT) · Digital Twin · MES (Manufacturing Execution System)
Related guides
Digital twins in industry
A clear-eyed look at industrial digital twins — what the term really means, the levels of fidelity, and where they deliver value versus hype.
Predictive maintenance: a practical guide
What predictive maintenance is, how it differs from preventive maintenance, which techniques fit which assets, and how to start without boiling the ocean.
Software
Cognite Data Fusion
Industrial DataOps and digital-twin foundation.
GE Vernova Proficy
MES, historian and digital-twin tooling for manufacturing.
Where this applies
State of Industrial Automation & Robotics 2026 · State of Digital Twins in Manufacturing 2026 · State of AI in Mining 2026 · State of Industrial Supply Chain & Logistics AI 2026