Digitized Production – Its Potentials and Hazards

The current possibilities of production automation allow the manufacturers of machine tools to consider new possibilities of acquiring the necessary information on the ongoing production process and the suitable ways of their use. This paper presents the potential of the applications for data acquisition from the control systems, implementation of the sensor systems into the production process, big data processing and development of a knowledge base allowing for efficient decision-making of the operator and planning of production tasks or maintenance of the machine, as well as the risks associated with remote access to machines within production digitalization in connection with the elements of Industry 4.0.