Page 8 - Automated Issue 11

ISSUE 11

Automation and globalisation

How technology has changed the way businesses operate internationally.

One of the earliest flights between two centred around globalisation. Every day, goods are
countries took place on January 7, 1785, when moved across the globe on shipping lines, freight
Jean-Pierre Blanchard and John Jeffries forwarders and by air. Business activities, including
crossed the English Channel by hot air balloon. outsourcing of logistics, facilities management,
It wasn’t until over a century later that a professional services and maintenance, can all be
heavier-than-air object repeated the journey. international processes.

At the start of the 20th century, developments in
aviation technology took off and the first airline to “The modern manufacturing
operate international flights was launched in 1917.
Since then, the ability to travel and transport goods supply chain is centred around
internationally has dramatically altered the way globalisation”
companies do business.
Globalisation Industry 4.0
Technological developments, both in and outside of With every major industrial and technological change,
factories, have impacted the manufacturing industry’s the characteristics of globalisation have been altered.
globalisation — the process by which businesses and In 2011, the term Industry 4.0 was introduced by the
other organisations develop international influence or German government and Siemens at Hannover
start operating internationally. Ever since the first Messe. Industry 4.0 shifts manufacturing away from
industrial revolution, industrialisation has impacted analogue and mechanical technologies and towards
international business. In particular, advances in all things digital.
transport and telecommunications have had a huge
impact. With increasing trade and communication, As information technology (IT) and operational
more and more companies are extending their reach technology (OT) converge, companies are beginning
across land and sea. to find new ways to connect. Data collected from
suppliers, customers and the enterprise can be
In fact, the modern manufacturing supply chain is aligned with detailed production information, which

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