Process Industries 1: Sustainability, Managerial and Scientific Fundamentals

From the Introduction:
...This book is particularly interested in the industrial facility at the center of the company. The future of it will depend heavily on its design and its technical and human implementation. Manufacturing operations are no longer considered dirty jobs; it is a given that wealth is built in the workshop (or on the shop floor). Thus, Toyotism, also called “lean manufacturing”, is there to prove it: this production system has enabled Toyota to create an empire in the automotive industry and surpass the Americans in their own country. In recent years, the digital revolution has brought about a radical change (disruption) at the societal level and at the level of companies, both at the managerial and productive levels. It was made possible by the increased power of computers (Moore’s law), by the multiplication of sensors, their miniaturization, their low cost, and the development of algorithms. The notion of artificial intelligence (AI), which brings together a set of computer applications and algorithms based on the processing and exploitation of Big Data, testifies to this industrial revolution in progress. AI modifies our lives, our professions, our way of moving, very often, of taking care of ourselves, without our being aware of it. This term pervades books, articles, speeches and private and government research programs. Smartphones and tablets, which are only about 10 years old, are one of the essential pieces of media of this revolution. Who could do without it today? In addition to AI, the digital revolution has brought with it a number of digital tools that underpin the concept of the factory of the future, born in Germany under the name “factory 4.0”. The factory of the future combines the virtual world with the real world. These tools include the IoT (Internet of Things) – everything is connected and everything is connectable – virtual reality, augmented reality, digital twins, additive manufacturing (3D printers), etc. The world of work is deeply affected by robotics and cobotics. We must expect an industry to emerge where repetitive, tiring, messy and even dangerous tasks will be eliminated. The operator will be more of a supervisor than a performer...