FirstPerson The future of engineering is here for the taking in Michigan Detroit’s story as a comeback city has been well documented over the past few years, as a growing number of innovative tech startups and small-business owners transform the Motor City’s image into a hotbed for young talent with entrepreneurial grit across all industries. Detroit’s entrepreneurial ecosystem is indeed alive and well—but what makes our area so unique is that we are not only home to the thinkers, but also the makers. It started with Henry Ford’s Model T and Michigan has never looked back. Manufacturing is in our DNA. And this unique combination of brains and muscle is what sets us apart from places like Silicon Valley, and what will ultimately help drive Detroit, and the entire state of Michigan, forward during a time of great technological change known as “Industry 4.0.” Industry 4.0—or the fourth industrial revolution of connected, smart factories—has created both immense opportunities and great challenges for manufacturers across the globe, as they rethink, retool and rebuild the way they do business. Think big data, the Internet of Things, the cloud, 3D printing, autonomous robotics, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence and so on. Michigan has an opportunity to lead the nation in the implementation of Industry 4.0 on our factory floors. Technology meccas like Silicon Valley have historically remained in the world of information technology, staying away from manufacturing in part because it’s more expensive to deal with physical things. Industry 4.0 changes all that. Industry 4.0 is attracting the attention of Silicon Valley investors whose argument is it doesn’t matter where you make the product anymore, it matters where you design it. This is the threat our state is facing. One of our advantages in Michigan is that we have a rich supply chain of traditional manufacturers all the way from smaller suppliers to Tier 1s and OEMs. Since Industry 4.0 can be characterized as manufacturing at the speed of information, this can be a great environment for new technologies to be vetted. We have seen firsthand how some traditional Michigan manufacturers are innovating internally and deploying Industry 4.0 technologies, learning as they go. But these companies need help navigating this uncharted territory, and that’s where Automation Alley comes in. Automation Alley is connecting industry, academia and government to fuel Michigan’s economy and accelerate innovation. From small tech startups to large OEMs, our goal is to help Michigan companies increase revenue, reduce costs and think strategically as they keep pace with rapid technological changes in manufacturing. We understand that the key to our state’s success in Industry 4.0 is knowledge, not only for business owners, but also for a workforce that will need to be upskilled as jobs are replaced by automation. No one knows for certain what our nation’s employment landscape will look like in a decade, and while it’s easy to feel threatened by technology, we do know from history that innovation creates new types of jobs and that employment gains will far outweigh the losses as this wave of technology washes over us. We must all be committed to shining a light on the incredible highly skilled, high-paying careers available in this sector—today and in the future. Industry 4.0 is already beginning to transform America’s workforce. As corporations shift toward smart manufacturing, robots will increase efficiency, companies will reduce costs and increase profits and more jobs will be created as a result. Industry 4.0 will most certainly create new kinds of jobs that will require new skill sets. That is why it is imperative that we invest in education to grow the future talent pool. Together, we must expose the current and future workforce to Industry 4.0 through education so that our state has companies that can win on the global stage today and have a strong talent pipeline of work- ready, educated students for tomorrow. No matter what industry you serve, the Industry 4.0 revolution will affect your business. And the future of Industry 4.0 belongs to those who are willing to invest time, talent and resources into implementing new technologies today. Don’t get left behind. Expand your understanding of where this fascinating industry—and our world—is headed. A version of this article previously appeared in Bridge Magazine. Tom Kelly is executive direc- tor and CEO of Automation Alley.