Service 4.0: The Reasons and Purposes of Industry 4.0 within the Ambit of After-Sales Maintenance

Abstract

In recent years, the concept of Industry 4.0 has been significantly advanced in industrial circles as an aspect that provides a competitive differential. Through the technologies involved, machines can now monitor and relay information on their operating conditions for analysis and decision-making, as well as for prompting action. These new functions generally involve the development of technological projects and significant investments. This renders it expedient to explain why certain systems should be monitored, but not others, as well as the use to be given to the data gathered as a way of generating income for a firm. This approach is especially important in certain corporate operations, such as after-sales maintenance. This article introduces a reference framework that permits the effective and efficient management of after-sales maintenance services. This framework relates after-sales service technologies with product technologies (Industry 4.0), and therefore covers the reasons and purposes of Industry 4.0 within the ambit of after-sales service.