The Internet of Things (IoT) has different applications and generates different outcomes, depending on the industry where it is applied. Defined at its most basic level, it could be simplified as wireless connectivity between different devices and the internet. In the manufacturing industry, these devices are production machines, in-plant sensors, mobile phones, information displays and production management software.
In this article we will discuss how the IoT is impacting the manufacturing industry and explain how your company will benefit from making the move to the IoT with tools such as Proalnet's Gespline. As a source for several of the points, we will cite a study conducted by FORBES INSIGHT in conjunction with INTEL, providing concrete data on world-class manufacturing companies.
1. Automation of information
An internet-connected production machine will automatically
transmit data and interpret it according to the user's
specifications, storing it on servers provided by the company or in
private spaces in the cloud. This replaces the tasks of operators
manually entering data into the company's system and replaces
analysts who (in the past) must interpret that data to derive key
management indicators.
According to the Forbes study, companies that have adopted IoT
have improved their ability to visualise information by 52%,
substantially improving real-time monitoring.
(Read here for possible errors due to not having automated information)
2. Process tracking (production plant - sales floor)
By coding raw materials, processes and finished products, all steps that take place in the plants and on the shop floor can be tracked. In this way, sales and marketing plans can be drawn up, reasons for defective products can be traced back to the raw material. We highlight the alarm systems that can be generated automatically (such as when a machine has a stoppage of more than x minutes or when defective units pass a certain threshold).
(read the 4 key indicators you need to follow to achieve world class production)
3. Increases production capacity and opens up new business lines
According to the aforementioned study, 49% of early adopters of IoT have significantly increased their production capacity, to the point that 51% of them have expanded their business lines (products and services). These increases come from being able to analyse data faster and improve reaction time to eventualities. Initially these analyses are done by improvement engineers, but Machine Learning is gradually gaining ground, automatically proposing improvements in production and key points of preventive maintenance.
On a local scale, floor control software, such as Gespline, guarantees an increase in production of at least 15% per year, confirming the data from the study.
(Read how to improve the efficiency of your plant's machines)
4. Company-wide integration
The IoT concept is based on communication between devices: production machinery, screens with indicators both on the floor and in offices, maintenance personnel, mobile phone alerts, planning and programming systems. In this way, the whole company is integrated, generating better relations between all staff and favouring multidisciplinary teams that often form innovation and improvement committees.
They can also benchmark against Otero industries and sectors and compare standardised indicators
(Link to the study by Forbes Insight and Intel)
————————————————————————
If you want to read how to succeed in the digital transformation that the IoT is bringing, we recommend this article:
6 Keys for Your Factory to Succeed in Digital Transformation
If you also want to know how to use Proalnet's tools to make this transition, contact us
If you want to receive articles like this by email, sign up! Click Here.
We invite you to watch the video on how our GESPLINE platform works: Click Here!
