Industry 4.0 is accelerating in Poland, but we can forget about the revolution for now.

• The idea of ​​Industry 4.0 is being implemented in Poland, but it hasn't yet led to a breakthrough. As the CEO of Nextomation, a supplier of manufacturing technologies, emphasizes, it's more of an "evolution by setting the direction for industry development" than a radical transformation.
• Today, software serves as the foundation of every modern plant – it allows not only to monitor performance, but above all to analyze profitability, deviations and errors at every stage of the process, adds Grzegorz Szydełko.
• As he points out, competencies and bureaucracy are hindering progress – there's still a lack of practical skills among graduates, and the process of obtaining funding is "very difficult and fraught with the risk of losing the grant at the slightest error." This, alongside market instability, slows down the digital transformation of the industry.
• The conversation is part of a series of interviews that will serve as the basis for the report "From Tape to Algorithm. How Digitalization Shapes the Future of Industry," prepared by WNP Economic Trends in connection with the New Industry Forum (Katowice, October 14-15, 2025).

As Polish industry struggles to remain competitive, the issue of digitalization and digitization is highly relevant. As a supplier of automated assembly and testing lines working with large international clients, how do you see the progress of the Industry 4.0 revolution in Poland?

- As you rightly noted, we are on the other side of this process, i.e. we support businesses in automating production processes, increasing efficiency and optimization.

Over the past five years, we have completed numerous investments in automation, teetering on the brink of digitizing production. These included comprehensive assembly and testing systems, as well as improvements and tools supporting production operations.

Our company has also implemented solutions that digitize selected processes and created tools to support production management for our clients. This is a strategic initiative: to streamline processes, accelerate them, reduce waste, and relieve employees of monotonous and repetitive tasks that can and should be automated.

Industry 4.0 – a revolution that has become an evolution in Poland

At the same time, we're seeing a general increase in awareness of data security and archiving, as well as the protection of industrial networks. Risk awareness is much greater today than it was just a few years ago. Companies are meticulously storing data and duplicating archiving locations to secure it. We're seeing this become standard practice.

When building assembly and testing lines, we integrate them with higher-level systems: MES, ERP, and SAP. Today, virtually every project doesn't involve a line being connected to higher-level systems and customer databases. This is a significant shift from previous years, when only the wealthiest corporations implemented such solutions. Now, smaller manufacturers are also doing so.

My observations show that the idea of ​​Industry 4.0 is being implemented in Poland, but it has not caused a major industrial revolution, but rather an evolution by giving direction to industrial development.

So we are, as a country, at the beginning of this road?

- Just a decade ago, Industry 4.0 was a concept whose principles were not clear and understandable for many areas of industry - today it is the leading paradigm of modern production.

For practitioners, it is not just about integrating IT and OT, but about a fundamental change in the approach to processes: full digitization of data flow, automation of production management and intelligent use of machines that communicate with each other in real time.

Despite the declarations of many companies, Industry 4.0 implementations in Poland are still fragmented and often limited to single, incomplete implementations, sometimes even experiments. In practice, it is primarily larger manufacturers who are implementing integrated MES, APS, IoT, and collaborative robot systems using scalable strategies, but implementations are also emerging in smaller enterprises that prioritize high levels of automation.

A significant portion of plants are implementing Industry 4.0 primarily for monitoring individual processes. The "pilot line" model often dominates, but informed investment and financial and advisory support (including for SMEs) influence decisions to implement such projects.

Industry 4.0, however, is not just about automation for the "wow" effect... The effectiveness of implementations depends on the business justification – cost optimization, shortened lead time, quality stability and easier process control.

Artificial intelligence should also be mentioned, the use of which in industry was supposed to be a breakthrough. It's currently a popular trend and a great technology that we should skillfully harness.

Unfortunately, there's no clear data on the effective use of this technology in our industry, although we hear about its implementation in various areas. The potential is clear here!

You mentioned that digitalization is also forcing changes within the company itself. What technologies are you developing and in what areas do you specialize?

- We develop production management software and flexible tools tailored to individual customer needs.

Modern production today is primarily about data and software.

We strive to ensure our solutions are open to integration with the client's host systems and easily expandable and adaptable to dynamically changing production needs. It's crucial that the technology we implement doesn't hinder further development – ​​both in terms of software and hardware. This strategy ensures our clients can quickly scale their production capacity in subsequent steps.

Modern manufacturing isn't just about the production line—it's also about a world of data. Software serves as the foundation of every modern plant today, allowing not only for monitoring performance but, above all, analyzing profitability, deviations, and errors at every stage of the process.

That's why we develop systems for advanced production management, including predictive maintenance, i.e. predicting the optimal moment for machine inspection and service.

Digital twins and AI – technologies with enormous potential

Among the industry trends, the role of the "digital twin" —a virtual representation of a production line or selected machines—is undoubtedly growing . Although this solution isn't yet a component of every project, we're seeing interest from customers and also see the potential for optimizing the entire production line construction process using this technology.

We provide solutions and tools that allow you not only to automate production, but also to prepare for further digitalization – real-time data analysis, rapid product changes, and personalization of production processes.

I emphasize: Industry 4.0 is not a single implementation, but a comprehensive transformation of the way a company operates, in which technology supports people and processes at every stage of the company's development.

What about your human resources? Are they keeping up with these changes? How do you develop employee potential and acquire competencies?

When searching for new competencies, we utilize various models – we collaborate with universities such as AGH, Kraków University of Technology, and Wrocław University of Science and Technology, as well as with secondary schools. We organize internships and traineeships, inviting young talent to collaborate. We create development paths for new employees.

Skills gap: education is not keeping up with industry needs

And as for the competencies for which we are unable to fill the gap within a reasonable time, we cooperate with our partners and manufacturers of specialized solutions that we integrate into production lines - and in this way we create and deliver comprehensive solutions to our clients.

How do you assess the preparedness of the Polish education system for the challenges of new technologies?

I see enormous potential among young people – they are ambitious, open-minded, and creative. Unfortunately, competences in the fields of artificial intelligence and Industry 4.0 are still insufficient…

Many students leave universities with theoretical knowledge but lack practical skills. Although infrastructure, such as laboratories, has significantly improved in recent years, curricula rarely keep pace with the dynamic changes taking place in industry.

In many countries, especially in Asia, learning about digitization, automation, and machine programming is already a permanent element in young people's education. In Poland, we still view these technologies as novelties, rather than making them commonplace. Meanwhile, the future of industry depends on digital competences and the ability to work with advanced tools.

A few years ago, in collaboration with our partners, we delivered an educational assembly line to the AGH University of Science and Technology in Krakow, equipped with then-advanced production automation solutions, to train students in the latest technologies. Today, this line requires modernization, as the world has moved on. This demonstrates the importance of constantly updating both equipment and curricula.

I'd like to add that in Germany, companies are investing in company schools, where they provide hands-on training for mechatronics and automation engineers. In Poland, such solutions are still rare, as many companies cannot afford such an investment.

Could the government help here, even through financial support? What role should it play in accelerating the digital transformation of industry?

- This is a very broad topic, because there are many ways to involve the state...

Bureaucracy and lack of systemic support hinder the development of digitalization

The process of obtaining funding is very difficult for entrepreneurs. Programs exist, but they require a tremendous amount of work and bureaucracy, and managing them carries the risk of losing the grant with the slightest calculation error. Compared to countries like Germany or Spain, this path is often too difficult for small and medium-sized businesses...

This is one of the reasons why European industry, including Polish industry, is losing its competitiveness. Europe has prioritized innovation, ecology, and sustainable development, which is right, but it raises a fundamental question: isn't this coming at the expense of our market position in the global chain? At the same time, many Asian companies benefit from subsidies and support, making them more competitive globally.

That's why we strive to support our clients from the project preparation stage. We provide consulting services to minimize the risk of excessive investment costs and help select tailor-made solutions that meet real needs. We strive to take a pragmatic approach to the entire process, helping them adapt technology to the needs of the company and better utilize available funds.

There's plenty of work to be done, but I'm pleased that awareness of the need for transformation in Polish industry, including digital transformation, is growing in Europe. This transformation can be supported by "support programs" (both national and EU). This process needs to be simplified and agile at every stage.

So why is Poland still lagging behind in digitalization?

"The main reasons are a lack of systemic support, complex procedures, and market instability. The crisis in the automotive industry, the pandemic, and geopolitical uncertainty are all causing companies to invest cautiously. Strategies used to be five-year long, but now they're revised every one or two years. Europe is moving more slowly than China, where clearly defined goals and financial support for their implementation have been secured."

But at the European level, there are various programs – for example, "AI Gigafactories" or "Application of Artificial Intelligence," as well as other strategies related to quantum technologies. We also have the Poland Digitalization Strategy 2035… Is this real support for business?

"This is definitely a step in the right direction. We must develop modern technologies, otherwise we will be left behind. However, simplifying access to financing in the area of ​​digitization and new technologies is crucial. Security regulations and educational programs that improve the digital skills of staff are also crucial."

Data Security and NIS2 – New Industry Standards

We've been talking about the latest technologies, so I have to conclude by asking about security issues. After all, we're talking about sensitive data. How do you assess the level of awareness within companies?

"Awareness is growing, which is very positive. Standards like NIS2 are being implemented, which strengthen the protection of industrial networks. Our customers are reluctant to allow remote connections—and this is understandable for security reasons, and there have been real cases of industrial network intrusions."

It is important that regulations do not boil down to creating documentation, but provide real tools that ensure security for business continuity, which are easy to implement and maintain.

Progress is being made in network segmentation, system updates, and overall security management.

And here too, the role of the state is crucial, because the most important thing is that the regulations are simple, practical, effective and easy to implement.