Industry 4.0

What is Industry 4.0?

Industry 4.0, also referred to as the fourth industrial revolution, defines how advanced automation and data utilisation is developing within the global manufacturing and production sectors. Technological advancements under the Industry 4.0 umbrella include the ‘Internet of Things’, ‘Big Data’, virtual technologies and artificial intelligence and one of the main opportunities for the manufacturing industry lies in the potential to create a ‘smart factory’ based upon successful cyber-physical cooperation between humans and technology.

While Industry 4.0 will undoubtedly revolutionise manufacturing processes, performance and operations, the legal challenges its introduction may bring to light should not be ignored.

Early studies suggest the 4 legal areas most likely to be affected by Industry 4.0 will be:

Commercial contracts

Use of data

Employment Law

Intellectual Property