Focusing on "Industrial Internet", the US Industry 4.0 focuses on "soft" power

　　In the United States, the concept of "Industry 4.0" is more often replaced by "Industrial Internet." Despite the difference in name, the basic concepts are the same: connecting virtual networks with physical entities to create more efficient production systems.

　　From a policy perspective, after the financial crisis, the US government elevated the development of advanced manufacturing to a national strategy, hoping to reshape manufacturing with new, revolutionary production methods. From an industry perspective, the formation of the Industrial Internet Consortium signaled the start of the private sector's foray into the Industry 4.0 era. Unlike Germany's emphasis on "hard" manufacturing, the United States, with its developed software and internet economy, focuses more on "soft" services to drive a new wave of industrial revolution, hoping to revitalize traditional industries using the internet and maintain the long-term competitiveness of its manufacturing sector.

　　Government Strategy Drives Innovation

　　To address the new technological industrial revolution and compete for international industrial influence, the United States has made revitalizing manufacturing one of its top strategic priorities in recent years. Following the financial crisis, the US government enacted a series of bills focusing on building manufacturing innovation research centers, hoping to transform traditional manufacturing with high technology and propel the US economy back onto a path of sustainable growth.

　　In April 2009, newly inaugurated President Obama gave a speech outlining the revitalization of manufacturing as a major long-term strategic goal for the US economy. In December of the same year, the US government released the "Framework for Revitalizing American Manufacturing," which detailed the theoretical basis and advantages of revitalizing manufacturing, becoming a strategic guide for US manufacturing development. The Obama administration then gradually implemented the manufacturing innovation plan, covering strategic layout, development paths, and specific measures.

　　In June 2011, the United States officially launched the "Advanced Manufacturing Partnership," aiming to accelerate the seizing of the commanding heights of 21st-century advanced manufacturing. In February 2012, it further introduced the "National Strategic Plan for Advanced Manufacturing," using active policies to encourage manufacturing companies to return to the United States. These plans included two main lines: adjusting and improving the structure and competitiveness of traditional manufacturing, and developing high-tech industries, including advanced production technology platforms, advanced manufacturing processes and designs, and data infrastructure for advanced digital manufacturing technologies.

　　In March 2012, Obama first proposed building a "National Network for Manufacturing Innovation," establishing up to 45 research centers to strengthen the organic combination of industry, academia, and research between higher education institutions and manufacturing companies. In January 2013, the US President's Executive Office, the National Science and Technology Council, and the National Program Office for Advanced Manufacturing jointly released the "National Network for Manufacturing Innovation Preliminary Design," investing $1 billion to establish the National Network for Manufacturing Innovation (NNMI), focusing efforts on promoting innovation in advanced manufacturing such as digital manufacturing, new energy, and new materials applications, and creating a number of innovation clusters with advanced manufacturing capabilities.

　　Key research areas of this innovation network include: developing lightweight materials such as carbon fiber composites to improve fuel efficiency, performance, and corrosion resistance of next-generation vehicles, aircraft, trains, and ships; improving standards, materials, and equipment related to 3D printing technology to enable low-cost, small-batch product production using digital design; creating frameworks and methods for intelligent manufacturing, allowing production operators to have real-time access to "big data streams" from fully digital factories to improve production efficiency, optimize supply chains, and improve the efficiency of energy, water, and material use.

　　Over the past two years, these plans have been gradually implemented. In August 2012, the US government and the private sector jointly invested $85 million to establish the "National Additive Manufacturing Innovation Institute." In May 2013, the US government announced $200 million in federal funding to establish three manufacturing innovation centers: the "Lightweight and Modern Metal Manufacturing Innovation Institute," the "Digital Manufacturing and Design Innovation Institute," and the "Next Generation Power Electronics Manufacturing Institute." A composite materials manufacturing center was also established this year.

　　According to the "Global Trends in Advanced Manufacturing" report released by the Wilson Center, a US think tank, the US ranks first in the world in R&D investment, with three-quarters going to manufacturing, and has a clear advantage in advanced manufacturing areas such as synthetic biology, advanced materials, and rapid prototyping. Analysts believe that with the strong support of the government and the private sector, the United States is likely to see a new wave of technological innovation marked by the full coverage of wireless network technology, the extensive use of cloud computing, and the large-scale development of intelligent manufacturing.

　　Industry Alliances Break Down Technological Barriers

　　Unlike Germany's Industry 4.0 emphasis on "hard" manufacturing, the United States, with its developed software and internet economy, focuses more on "soft" services to drive a new wave of industrial revolution, hoping to leverage networks and data to enhance the value creation capabilities of the entire industry. It can be said that the American version of Industry 4.0 is actually the "Industrial Internet" revolution. In this process, in addition to government policy support, the leading role of industry alliances has become an important driving force for development.

　　The concept of the "Industrial Internet" was first proposed by General Electric in 2012, and subsequently, five leading US industry companies joined forces to form the Industrial Internet Consortium (IIC), promoting this concept vigorously. In addition to manufacturing giants like General Electric, the alliance also includes IT companies such as IBM, Cisco, Intel, and AT&T.

　　The Industrial Internet Consortium uses an open membership system and is committed to developing a "common blueprint" that enables data sharing between different manufacturers' equipment. The standards of this blueprint not only involve Internet network protocols, but also indicators such as the storage capacity of data in IT systems, the power of interconnected and non-interconnected devices, and data traffic control. The aim is to break down technological barriers by setting common standards, using the internet to activate traditional industrial processes, and better promote the integration of the physical and digital worlds.

　　Although the establishment and final approval of these standards may take several years, once established, they will help hardware and software developers create products fully compatible with the Internet of Things. The end result may be the full integration of sensors, networks, computers, cloud computing systems, large enterprises, vehicles, and hundreds of other types of entities, leading to a comprehensive improvement in the efficiency of the entire industrial chain. (Yang Bo)