Manufacturing 4.0: Discussion on Application in the Extractive Industry of Essential Oils

Yield uncertainties characterize the industrial extraction of essential oils. The variable plant contents, undetected and uncorrected operational issues such as production in small batches, with a significant variation in the process cycles, productivity, and quality, compromise process performance, and the value of the finished product. The technological advances of industry 4.0 provide an opportunity to achieve economic, environmental, and productivity gains, even with the wide variety of products manufactured. This study aimed at improving the performance of such processes using the pillars of industry 4.0 as a method, highlighting the techniques of data acquisition and processing for intelligent analysis, based on automated and systemic learning, generating improvements for the overall performance of the operation as well as enhancing good manufacturing practices (process safety, quality, repeatability and traceability) and supply chain management. Our findings showed the adherence of 4.0 vision to this industry.