The progressive integration of communications, IT, data, and physical elements within the production systems is bringing significant opportunities to increase competitiveness within organizations. Industry 4.0, Industrial Internet of Things, andSmart Factory are all concepts recently develop which refer to these emerging opportunities.

Review the following article, What is Industry 4.0the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT)?https://www.epicor.com/en-us/resource-center/articles/what-is-industry-4-0/,and read about the Industrial Internet of things. Pay particular attention to the areas 'Impact' and 'Solutions' and then address the following questions:

• Will the progressive integration of communications, IT, data, and physical elements result in personnel reductions within the organizations that take advantage of these opportunities? Why or why not?
• If losses are imminent, will there be other areas where personnel lines will increase to offset these losses?