Track: Industry Practices and Solutions

Abstract

The last two to three centuries have witnessed humongous technological, socio-economic and
environmental transformations which have laid precedence to the swift advancements in fields of
sciences, engineering, medicine, business, and economics. While researchers focus on the
productivity and economic growth potential and how subsequent industrial revolution paved the
way for current contemporary lifestyle, very few analogies exist on the relationship between the
intervention of the technology used and the implications as per energy management concerns
during that period. The authors of this paper examine the impact of the changes in the industrial
structure from the first to the third industrial revolution era (Industry 1.0, 2.0, 3.0), premised on
the campaigns for cost-effective manufacturing and energy conservation throughput within the
time frame, and how it transitioned to existing technological innovations. The article discusses
energy issues and performance from the technology utilization perspective since the eighteenth
century that has led to the present engineering practices or the resolve for change, through new
means and technological approach. Different industrial practices which ushered the current
anthropogenic situation are assessed, and critical strategies that are pivotal to drive current reforms,
innovations and future ideas to see to the unstoppable realization of the Industry 4.0 (I4.0) on a
large, medium and small scale and the possible transition to Industry 4.0 plus and Society (I4 +.S)
are presented.