--- title: Supply Chain 4.0 – The Digital Era description: There is a revolution taking place enabling by leveraging technologies and concepts from Industry 4.0, the 4th Industrial revolution. Within the supply chain we call this Supply Chain 4.0. image: https://blog.som.cranfield.ac.uk/hubfs/Supply_Chain_4.0_Blog_Image.jpg --- [![Marques-SoM](https://blog.som.cranfield.ac.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/CGMD%20Blog/Images/CGMD%20Images/Logos/Marques-SoM.png?width=1&name=Marques-SoM.png)](http://www.cranfield.ac.uk/som) [![Marques-SoM](https://blog.som.cranfield.ac.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/Marques-SoM.png?width=85&name=Marques-SoM.png)](http://www.cranfield.ac.uk/som)   - [Home](https://blog.som.cranfield.ac.uk/knowledge) - Featured - [CEO Summit](https://blog.som.cranfield.ac.uk/knowledge/tag/ceo-summit-2021) - Categories - [Changing World of Work](https://blog.som.cranfield.ac.uk/knowledge/tag/changing-world-of-work) - [Digital Transformation](https://blog.som.cranfield.ac.uk/knowledge/tag/digital-transformation) - [Economics](https://blog.som.cranfield.ac.uk/knowledge/tag/economics) - [Entrepreneurship](https://blog.som.cranfield.ac.uk/knowledge/tag/entrepreneurship) - [Finance and Accounting](https://blog.som.cranfield.ac.uk/knowledge/tag/finance-and-accounting) - [Implementation](https://blog.som.cranfield.ac.uk/knowledge/tag/implementation) - [Leadership](https://blog.som.cranfield.ac.uk/knowledge/tag/leadership) - [Logistics and Supply Chain](https://blog.som.cranfield.ac.uk/knowledge/tag/logistics-and-supply-chain) - [Organisational Behaviour](https://blog.som.cranfield.ac.uk/knowledge/topic/organisational-behaviour) - [Organisational Resilience](https://blog.som.cranfield.ac.uk/knowledge/topic/organisational-resilience) - [Strategic Marketing and Sales](https://blog.som.cranfield.ac.uk/knowledge/tag/strategic-marketing-and-sales) - [Strategy](https://blog.som.cranfield.ac.uk/knowledge/tag/strategy) - [Sustainability](https://blog.som.cranfield.ac.uk/knowledge/tag/sustainability) - [Executive Development](https://blog.som.cranfield.ac.uk/knowledge/tag/executive-development) - Content - [Articles](https://blog.som.cranfield.ac.uk/knowledge/tag/article) - [Whitepapers](https://blog.som.cranfield.ac.uk/knowledge/tag/whitepaper) - [eBooks](https://blog.som.cranfield.ac.uk/knowledge/tag/ebook) - [Podcasts](https://blog.som.cranfield.ac.uk/knowledge/tag/podcast) - [Webinars](https://blog.som.cranfield.ac.uk/knowledge/tag/webinar) - [Videos](https://blog.som.cranfield.ac.uk/knowledge/tag/video) - Programmes - [Open Programmes ↗](https://www.cranfield.ac.uk/som/open-executive-programmes) - [Customised Programmes ↗](https://www.cranfield.ac.uk/som/executive-development/consultancy-and-custom-solutions) - [MBA Programmes ↗](https://www.cranfield.ac.uk/som/cranfield-mba-programmes) - [Master's Apprenticeships ↗](https://www.cranfield.ac.uk/som/management-and-leadership-masterships) - [The Blog](https://blog.som.cranfield.ac.uk/execdev) [![JOIN THE KNOWLEDGE HUB](https://hubspot-no-cache-eu1-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/cta/default/417879/b9b69d4d-7ced-4ee8-bd11-b66d3bd4d1b7.png)](https://hubspot-cta-redirect-eu1-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/cta/redirect/417879/b9b69d4d-7ced-4ee8-bd11-b66d3bd4d1b7) ### Subscribe you blog for exclusive insights. ![](https://blog.som.cranfield.ac.uk/hubfs/Supply_Chain_4.0_Blog_Image.jpg) read # Supply Chain 4.0 – The Digital Era By Professor Richard Wilding OBE ![Supply_Chain_4.0_Blog_Image](https://blog.som.cranfield.ac.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/Supply_Chain_4.0_Blog_Image.jpg?width=615&name=Supply_Chain_4.0_Blog_Image.jpg) **There is a revolution taking place. Enabled by leveraging technologies and concepts from Industry 4.0, the 4th Industrial revolution. Within the supply chain we call this Supply Chain 4.0.** **There are 9 building blocks to Supply Chain 4.0:** 1. System Integration 2. Big Data and Analytics 3. Simulation and Virtualization 4. Internet of Things (IoT) 5. The Cloud 6. Cybersecurity 7. Autonomous Systems 8. Augmented Reality 9. Additive Manufacturing or 3D printing Where revolution is really taking place within the supply chain is how these combine. For example, a warehouse my use augmented reality vision picking, where operators use “google glasses” type technology to see and read bar codes, they may be supported by autonomous automated trolleys that follow them around, big data analytics is used to improve and predict the operations. All combining to revolutionise environment. So, understand those building blocks and start building Supply Chain 4.0 systems that improve value for customers and drive down you costs.     Our work in this area at Cranfield is one of the areas explored within the [Leading Supply Chain Transformation Programme](https://www.cranfield.ac.uk/som/open-executive-programmes/logistics-and-supply-chain-management/supply-chain-management-programme)  - one of our specialist programmes designed to develop appropriate skills for next generation professionals in these fields. **Blog produced by:**  Professor Richard Wilding OBE, Professor of Supply Chain Strategy.   Read more: - [***Reducing Cost Through Collaborative Working in the Supply Chain***](https://blog.som.cranfield.ac.uk/execdev/reducing-costs-through-collaborative-working-in-the-supply-chain) - [***Leadership for Next Generation Supply Chains***](https://blog.som.cranfield.ac.uk/execdev/leadership-for-next-generation-supply-chains) - [***Supply Chain Strategy – an executive insight***](https://blog.som.cranfield.ac.uk/execdev/supply-chain-strategy) - [***Securing the Success of Strategic Supply ***Chain Initiatives Today and Tomorrow******](https://blog.som.cranfield.ac.uk/execdev/securing-the-success-of-strategic-supply-chain-initiatives-today-and-tomorrow) ******[![Supply Chain Management programme brochure](https://hubspot-no-cache-eu1-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/cta/default/417879/ee18c9ea-5a6e-420e-8ca5-201a45c66fc7.png)](https://hubspot-cta-redirect-eu1-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/cta/redirect/417879/ee18c9ea-5a6e-420e-8ca5-201a45c66fc7)****** Tags: [Cranfield School of Management](https://blog.som.cranfield.ac.uk/execdev/topic/cranfield-school-of-management), [featured learning](https://blog.som.cranfield.ac.uk/execdev/topic/featured-learning), [featured leadership](https://blog.som.cranfield.ac.uk/execdev/topic/featured-leadership), [featured sidebar leadership](https://blog.som.cranfield.ac.uk/execdev/topic/featured-sidebar-leadership), [featured sidebar all](https://blog.som.cranfield.ac.uk/execdev/topic/featured-sidebar-all), [featured sidebar learning](https://blog.som.cranfield.ac.uk/execdev/topic/featured-sidebar-learning), [featured all](https://blog.som.cranfield.ac.uk/execdev/topic/featured-all), [exec-feature](https://blog.som.cranfield.ac.uk/execdev/topic/exec-feature), [supply chain](https://blog.som.cranfield.ac.uk/execdev/topic/supply-chain), [supply chain management](https://blog.som.cranfield.ac.uk/execdev/topic/supply-chain-management), [industrial revolution](https://blog.som.cranfield.ac.uk/execdev/topic/industrial-revolution), [industry 4.0](https://blog.som.cranfield.ac.uk/execdev/topic/industry-4-0) ### Related Articles ## 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