National Industry and Industry 4.0

It is possible to make many definitions for Industry 4.0. However, if we make a general definition, we can say that it describes the process of development in production and management. This process includes all developments in automation, interconnectivity, data exchange, information technologies, data processing and production. Therefore, industry 4.0 is a collective term that works, develops and relates with many different fields.

            In order to understand exactly what the fourth industrial revolution is and to discover their potential and to direct industry in the interests of the country for the future, and perhaps to form the basis of the fifth industrial revolution, it is necessary to examine the previous industrial revolutions and to know how they direct humanity.

            The first industrial revolution began in the late 1700s with the discovery of a steam engine, with the invention of machines that turned water and steam power into mechanical power for production. Thus, for the first time, the power of nature was used instead of arm strength in production.

            The second industrial revolution began in the late 19th century and early 20th century with the discovery of electricity, a more useful form of energy than steam. In this way, electric machines with more mass production potential were invented. In addition, the discovery of steel has led to the construction of durable automation machines, and the invention of telegraph and telephony has accelerated communication, thus becoming the dynamos of the second industrial revolution.

            It can be said that the third industrial revolution began in the late 1950s, when the first computers, which are the ancestors of today's computers, but can be regarded as the advanced technologies of the time, began to be used for production. In fact, the development of semiconductor technology and the invention of transistors in 1948 led to the emergence of computers and microprocessor-based devices. This stiation also heralded the transition from mechanical technology to digital technology.

            With digitalization, there are so many improvements that we can write for the fourth industrial revolution. But if we do not write the internet which is the pioneer of all these developments and technologies from the very beginning, we would be wrong. Interconnectivity, interoperability and communication have increased with the development and expansion of the Internet. This communication capability and increased processing power have enabled the development of many technologies including machine-machine interaction, internet of things, cloud computing, parallel and distributed system technologies, real-time data processing and autonomous robots and etc.

            Because of sociological and economic adversities that found in Turkey, unfortunately, industrial revolutions are not caught up in the time period of took places. However now with the acceleration of communication, Turkey has started to close the gap with the countries that have fully realized the industrial revolutions. As long as the necessary reforms in education are made and with the correct orientation of the dynamic manpower, Turkey will also catch these countries. For example, until ten years ago Turkey's own unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) was not available. We can say that we are in the champions league in the UAV sector by taking the right and fast steps in ten years. We are even better than many members of this league.

            But how did we catch the countries that were 50 years ahead of us about the UAV ten years ago?

            As can be seen in this example, countries with advanced technology and industry, are no longer 50 years ahead of us. If the possibilities of technology and serial communication are used correctly, we may catch them a decade or a year.

            In order to increase our competitiveness in the international arena as a country and get more shares from the cake;

·         We have to invest in people. We need to be able to train our human resources in a quality and homogeneous way required by the age and to train qualified manpower that will lead us to industry 4.0.

·         We should be able to learn how to use developing technology in line with our goals as a society.

·         We should be able to turn our country into a center of attraction in this field in order to direct the investor to make technological investments in our country. Therefore, technological infrastructures should be realized by the government if necessary.

·         Turkish industrial companies should ensure digitalization and institutionalization. It should be able to produce faster and hassle-free production with artificial intelligence and automation.

·         We should raise awareness of our industrial companies and factories towards branding and support the branding efforts as a state.

If we can properly utilize the advantages of new age and technologies in our country as a society, we realize Industry 4.0 and open the doors of Industry 5.0.


Dr. Musa MİLLİ