Today’s manufacturing sector needs quick adaptation to dynamic business environments and evolving shop floor requirements. Consequently, more and more enterprises are investing in advanced technologies to improve productivity, efficiency, and product quality. One such technology is Industrial IoT which plays a crucial role in preparing the manufacturing sector for Industry 4.0 revolution.
Enterprises which are looking for competitive advantage need look no further than the potential of Industrial IoT in manufacturing. It impacts every aspect of the manufacturing industry from maintenance to supplier logistics to employee workflows to product delivery.
Let’s take a glance at Industrial IoT and its benefits for manufacturing.
Industrial Internet of Things: A Brief Introduction
Industrial IoT is the subset of the Internet of Things that utilizes smart sensors and actuators to enhance manufacturing and industrial processes. IIoT leverages the potential of smart machines and analytics to collect real-time information which helps enterprises to plan effectively and transform processes.
With IIoT, manufacturers can collect the necessary data and then act on insights to make decisions. Therefore, enterprises can achieve increased visibility and control over their processes while making improvements quickly. In turn, companies can produce products faster and more effectively.
Benefits of IIoT in Manufacturing Industry
Today, IoT-enabled enterprises are gaining innumerable benefits, including reduced operating costs, increased productivity and efficiency, safer working conditions, and much more. With such advantages, undoubtedly IIoT is revolutionizing the way Industry 4.0 Manufacturing operates and grows.
So how exactly does Industrial IoT drive these benefits? Let’s go deeper and explore the potential of IoT in manufacturing facilities.
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Improved Product Design & Quality Controls
IoT sensors can collect product data and third-party data at each stage of the production life cycle. This data helps manufacturers to identify the effect of external factors on the final product. For instance, you can monitor aspects like factory temperature in which raw materials were used, and other environmental factors that affect the development of products. Furthermore, you can also track waste material or the impact of transportation for achieving sustainable end products.
Additionally, you might look at IoT data alongside customer reviews and preferences which allows enterprises to identify and improve quality issues during production.
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Enhanced Efficiency
IIoT can automate, and therefore, optimize the operating efficiency of manufacturing. Integration of RPA and automated machinery can make IoT to operate efficiently and accurately, increase productivity and help manufacturers to streamline their functions.
Moreover, you can connect your equipment to software through sensors that monitor performance on a constant basis. It enables manufacturers to gain better insights into the performance of assets.
In a nutshell, IIoT-powered manufacturing operations become more efficient through automated tasks, making data-driven decisions, and monitoring performance from anywhere in the world.
Also Read : How Industry 4.0 is Beneficial for Manufacturing Industry
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Predictive Maintenance
Machine downtime impacts heavily on manufacturing operations. It mostly happens due to the lack of proper and predictive maintenance. Usually, maintenance in the manufacturing sector is reactive rather than proactive, which led manufacturers to struggle with what the issue is, how it can be repaired, and what it will cost. With Industrial IoT solutions, all these issues can be solved.
IoT allows the constant monitoring of machinery performance and functions through the sensors. It collects data that empowers enterprises with insights that help them to know any issue before it occurs. They can then schedule maintenance before any major breakdown happens, which is beneficial in the following ways:
- Parts needed for the job
- Knowledge of cost beforehand which helps in the budgeting of the project
- Ensure that equipment operates at maximum efficiency
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Inventory Management
Running out of supply or overstocking on the shelves is one of the major challenges in inventory management. IoT-based devices and technologies such as wearables, sensors, and radio-frequency identification tags (RFID) provide locations, movement, status, and other information about assets. Such real-time asset tracking allows managers to monitor inventory management.
Visibility into inventories via IoT gives a more accurate estimate of available materials and estimated arrival time of new supply. This is how IIoT optimizes reducing costs and supply chains. Moreover, IIoT connects manufacturing enterprises to suppliers which enables better identification of interdependencies, material flow management, and some regulations in manufacturing cycle time.
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Process Optimization
Integrating IIoT technology in manufacturing can assist enterprises to manage operations efficiently. The connected manufacturing unit offers some outstanding benefits across various processes such as assembly line management, machine performance, workforce safety, quality control, and many more.
While sensor-integrated machines can monitor various aspects such as performance, conditions, etc, electronic work instructions assist operators to do their jobs efficiently. Overall it improves productivity and reduces downtime. Enhanced process efficiency translates into cost savings and ensures regulatory compliance.
Wrapping Up
Right from supply chain optimization and inventory planning to remote asset management, IIoT brings groundbreaking benefits to a wide range of areas in the manufacturing industry. IIoT brings massive, real-time datasets to organizations which enables them for smarter, faster decision-making with the potential to increase productivity and cost savings. However, it is essential to have the right culture with a skilled workforce and clear-cut objectives to leverage the benefits of IIoT.
Rejig Digital is a leading Industrial IoT solution provider for the thriving manufacturing industry. We assist modern enterprises to increase productivity, improve quality, and effective asset utilization. Would you like to know more? Simply drop us a line at info@rejigdigital.com.
