Historically, factory systems have been designed on centralised models, in which a core programmable logic controller provides top-down control through several layers of networking to actuators in the machines. However, with the rise of Industry 4.0 and networked connectivity factory and warehouse operations are moving away from these models to more modular machine designs.

In the latest Engineers’ Insight, Paul Jones investigates the challenges these changes present to machine designers, and what needs to be considered in order to overcome them.