The fourth industrial revolution is threatening to transform the global supply chains. There would be large job losses and the work would be shaped differently. In the last three decades, manufacturing capacities shifted to developing countries to avail of the low cost of labour. Industry 4.0 and greater robotisation change the cost structure of plants. Export-oriented plants in low-cost countries become much less competitive. Instead automated smaller plants are set up closer to the consumers. The delivery time is also shortened. The plant network will be multi-country. The employment fall due to automation will be compensated by the rise in skilled employment. The definition of plant undergoes a change. It is a high-tec facility that responds to shortening of PLC and customisation. Formerly, plants were low-to medium-tec facilities, labour intensive, mass producing industrial products.

As physical facilities and digital merge, the nature of product sold to customers changes too. The service component of products becomes prominent. These are manufactured services or industrialised services. It changes the definition of industry itself.