In the first Industrial Revolution, Britain’s manufacturers harnessed the power of coal and steam, leading to the birth of the modern factory. The second revolution saw the introduction of the production line and the third the use of automation.
Many say we are now in a fourth industrial revolution, as factories are transformed by digital connectivity. At the same time, governments around the world have woken up to the need to cut carbon emissions from industry.
The two go hand-in-hand, as digital connectivity enhances efficiency at every stage of the supply chain, from design to production and maintenance, cutting the amount of energy and materials used to achieve the same quality and level of output.
In March the government announced its strategy to cut carbon
