Industrial IoT: How Connected Things Are Changing Manufacturing

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Internet of Things, when extended to industrial equipment require sensors to be plugged into physical assets of the manufacturing plants. Sensors gather information, store it in different data units and maintain metadata against that. It also uses analytics and artificial intelligence and machine learning to take any action. The Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) makes use of networked sensors and intelligent devices and puts those technologies to use directly on the manufacturing floor, collecting data to drive artificial intelligence and predictive analytics.

Under the wave of digital transformation, manufacturing processes are also being transformed. Here is how different processes are influenced by this wave of change:

IoT in Production Process

IoT and modern digital setup is a part of all day-to-day operations, determining the health of machinery, or reducing energy consumption, information collection about input and output from the plant. The aim is to overcome all the challenges faced in the production capability of the plant by optimising the machines, production process and the throughput. The data collected is continuously analysed, and maintenance action is taken when any threat is predicted. For instance, when a machine uses excessive energy, overheats or begins severely vibrating, management can see this data and perform maintenance before a critical failure occurs. The intermediate status is continuously displayed on HMI of the machine.

IoT Powering Supply Chain

The data collected can be used to span the entire supply chain that starts at the procurement of required resources. The products are then refined and tracked to notify when the product needs design modification or replacement.

The technology is not merely tracking the product and its lifecycle; it also includes settings triggers for releasing payments. The integrated Industrial IoT helps in determining the location and condition of the product.

In the digitisation of processes, automation is playing a major role in revamping the finances as well. Optimising the production process is a major change that helps in saving the money invested in increasing the value of the goods in the line of production. Schneider Electric India is one of the best organisations across the globe creating end-to-end automation driven solutions for industrial and domestic setup. The world is entering a new age where the industries thrive on data analytics, connectivity, and automation. With the use of more automation movements, IOT will get more traction. Within the next ten years, business will see a revolution in terms of technology and new job opportunities. The businessman who understands what IIOT brings with it will have the upper hand as the industries are changing and with more entrepreneurs becoming the customers, solutions will be refined.