TOWARDS INDUSTRY 4.0: A ROADMAP FOR THE SOUTH AFRICAN HEAVY INDUSTRY SECTOR

Authors

  • Jaco Prinsloo Centre for Research and Continued Engineering Development, North-West University, Pretoria, South Africa
  • Jan Christiaan Vosloo Centre for Research and Continued Engineering Development, North-West University, Pretoria, South Africa
  • Edward Henry Mathews Centre for Research and Continued Engineering Development, North-West University, Pretoria, South Africa

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.7166/30-3-2237

Abstract

The rapid growth and expansion of the Internet, as well as technical advances in the area of sensor technology, allow for the interconnection of physical objects for the purpose of achieving collective goals, which paves the way for the Fourth Industrial Revolution. The Industry 4.0 paradigm is a relatively new concept that still requires detailed investigation and discussion. Standards, technologies, and overall guidelines need to be presented; thus this review paper aims to address key questions to provide some clarity on navigating the tide of Industry 4.0. The key enabling technologies, and the extent to which these technologies can be applied in industry to achieve the fundamental goals of Industry 4.0, are presented and discussed. Current challenges that hinder Industry 4.0 adoption in the South African mining sector are discussed, and a short discussion on the way forward is presented. In brief, this article aims to present a detailed roadmap for the implementation of Industry 4.0 methods in the South African mining sector. From the literature, a digital framework and toolbox have been compiled to serve as a roadmap for the way forward in successful Industry 4.0 adoption. The proposed framework and toolbox are presented, with a theoretical case study.

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Author Biographies

Jaco Prinsloo, Centre for Research and Continued Engineering Development, North-West University, Pretoria, South Africa

Mr. Jaco Prinsloo holds a B.Eng. degree in Computer Engineering. He is currently enrolled for his Masters studies at the North-West University’s Centre for Research and Continued Engineering Development (CRCED) in Pretoria.

Jan Christiaan Vosloo, Centre for Research and Continued Engineering Development, North-West University, Pretoria, South Africa

Dr. Jan Vosloo is a registered professional engineer and holds a PhD in Electrical Engineering from the North-West University. He is currently a lecturer at the North-West University’s Centre for Research and Continued Engineering Development (CRCED) in Pretoria.

Edward Henry Mathews, Centre for Research and Continued Engineering Development, North-West University, Pretoria, South Africa

Prof Edward Mathews is a registered professional engineer and holds a PhD in mechanical engineering from the North-West University. He is currently a lecturer at the North-West University’s Centre for Research and Continued Engineering Development (CRCED) in Pretoria.

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Published

2019-11-15

How to Cite

Prinsloo, J., Vosloo, J. C., & Mathews, E. H. (2019). TOWARDS INDUSTRY 4.0: A ROADMAP FOR THE SOUTH AFRICAN HEAVY INDUSTRY SECTOR. The South African Journal of Industrial Engineering, 30(3), 174–186. https://doi.org/10.7166/30-3-2237

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Section

Special Edition