The Realization of Applying Lean-based IoT Platform to Achieve Industrial 4.0 for SME - A Real Case Implementation

Industry 4.0 is the fourth industrial revolution that utilize IT technologies such as IoT (Internet of Things), cloud computing, Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS), big data, etc. to achieve smart manufacturing. The core concept is to build intelligent and resource-efficient manufacturing. For a traditional factory to apply the IT technology needs heavy investment. This kind of investment usually can only afford by large enterprises. In many countries, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) play important roles in the manufacturing supply chains. Without legacy equipment, IoT facilities for communication, and Cloud computing structure, it is difficult for SMEs to transform the old machine into CPS. In order to help SMEs continuously upgrading their facilities and to transform the old facilities into smart manufacturing, this research suggests that SME can apply Lean-based IoT Platform (LBIP) as the framework to achieve Industry 4.0. The Lean-Based IoT Platform (LBIP) introduces a way to enable SME to establish a managerial model based on smart manufacturing by using proper IoT devices and by reducing waste and costs. Thereby SME can enhance the efficiency of supply chain and achieving sustained transformation. To illustrate and to demonstrate the utilization of LBIP for SMEs, this research has conducted a project in a traditional SME located in Central Taiwan. The results of this research has shown that LBIP can be the platform for integrating the existing equipment, deploying IoT facilities, and communicating among machines such that (1) the performance of the delivery, (2) the performance of productivity, and (3) the balance of inventory level are improved. By using proper IoT devices and by reducing waste and costs, the efficiency of supply chain, intelligent and resource-efficient manufacturing can then be reached. This document gives formatting instructions for authors preparing papers for publication in the International Journal of Advanced Information Technologies (AIT). The authors must follow the instructions given in the document for the papers to be published. The maximum size of the published paper is 10 pages. You can use this document as both an instruction set and as a template into which you can type your own text.