THE VENDING MACHINE AT THE SERVICE OF INDUSTRY 4.0

state of flux Industrial automation in a

Industry 4.0 does not only concern automation, although that is one of its fundamental components. But it is a precious indicator of the paths taken by the industrial sector to initiate this new transformation, notably regarding the investments made. The industrial countries have made financial choices - sometimes quite different choices - based on the weight of this sector in their economy.

For some states, it was a question of gaining in competitiveness by relocating, and for others they had to upgrade their industrial tool and adapt it to the new market needs and constraints. France chose the path of re-shoring while seeking, without any real conviction, to modernise and improve the sustainability of its industry. For France, I ndustry 4.0 represents a unique opportunity: that of rethinking its manufacturing ecosystem from top to bottom.

It could be at the heart of its own re-shoring and build its production, while re-creating skilled jobs.

With the vitality of French Tech and its network of start-ups and SMEs, its advances in virtualisation techniques, and its

mastery of AI which increases the predictability of the development of IoT ** (the Internet of Things) to process flows at very high speed, it has all the trump cards required to bring about a profound change.

France has knowledge and real skills in the digital sector.

Applied to the needs of industry, digitisation could make it possible to develop the factories of the future, support teams in their transition to a rethought, global system offering greater flexibility.

*Artificial Intelligence **Internet of Things

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