Interested in learning how enabling IOT for manufacturing can benefit your operations?
IOT, also known as the Internet of Things, is revolutionizing the way businesses across many industries operate. It helps them work smarter with efficiency. Access to data is at the core of the insights that will help your operation streamline operations, but you need to really understand what to track and which processes can be improved by IoT.
IoT is really just referring to internet-connected devices. In this context, it is known as “smart” manufacturing. It is also sometimes called the Industrial Internet of Things, or IIoT. Devices get deemed “smart” in the sense that they are online at all times ad can be controlled and monitored. At home, IoT devices are things like meters, lighting, fridges, and televisions – everyday items kept on 24/7 to increase efficiencies.
In the commercial world these devices can be embedded in products, equipment, and even processes. IoT for manufacturing creates “smart” facilities. Incorporating this in the ways described here can reduce wasted material, improve process, and increase output as a result.
IoT Applications in Manufacturing
IoT for manufacturing plants and process can be put in place for warehousing, shipping, logistics, transportation, assembly, packaging, and even administrative aspects like document management. In these settings, connected devices provide real-time updates on things like incoming and outgoing goods or production volumes and quality.
Benefits of IoT-Enabled Manufacturing
IoT may just be the next big thing in this industry, alongside analytics and machine learning. Bain & Company predicts that the combined IoT market will grow to at least $520 billion in 2021, more than doubling its 2017 value of close to $235 billion. There are a number of benefits for businesses that put IoT in place, including:
- Energy efficiency with insights down to device level
- Predictive maintenance, reducing unplanned downtime and improving efficiency
- Quality control for materials and products
- Enhancement of performance and monitoring of equipment
- Ability to resolve problems remotely
Get Started with IoT
Prioritize and identify what your business problems are, what data you need to be able to analyze real-time, and what processes might be improved by connecting in this way. You can create small pilot applications of IoT to test and determine if you will get true return on investment.
Implementing and integrating IoT for manufacturing business environments is challenging in a number of ways. You could see resistace from staff who see it as a threat to jobs, of course, among other plausible issues. The real key here is to be open and honest about introducing any new technologies. Educate your employees about the benefits to the business and how that feeds their success – even before you start testing.
Security of devices is also a humongous potential issue that deserves its own entire piece here. You really should start with an assessment of your manufacturing environment, followed up by a comprehensive plan to keep it secure with these potential additions of technology connection.
IoT can potentially give your manufacturing business a huge competitive advantage by allowing you to operate and serve customers better; however, before all of that, you must determine the best way to use IoT for the greatest return.
We can help you with everything – from deciding whether IoT options are right for your business, all the way down to the ongoing management and monitoring involved in securing and optimizing the technologies in your environment.
Get in touch with us to get started:
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