Manufacturing and supply chains are thriving thanks to the Internet of Things.
When a supplier of aviation fuel looked at the enormous logistical problem of fuelling planes in foreign airports - getting oil from the refinery to the plane - from a new perspective, they looked at what the latest in IT might do to help. The requirement of the hour was for a very complex system with dependable communication up to the fuelling vehicle. They chose a fuel handling system (FHS) that modeled and integrated the whole process from refinery to fuelling. An onboard computer, touch screen, printer, Programmable Logic Controller (PLC), and measurement system were installed in all gasoline transport trucks. That's not all, though. The FHS was then integrated with airline and oil industry ERP systems, as well as airport flight display board systems. As a result, there is more accuracy, efficiency, and cost savings.
Welcome to the fourth industrial revolution.
We are experiencing a new transformation in production and supply around the globe, which we have dubbed The Fourth Industrial Revolution or Industry 4.0. (Isn't it true that we can't get away from software jargon?) The use of communication and information advancements to better practically any activity on the globe is at the heart of this revolution. The key motivations are still business-related: a need for more choice, cheaper costs, and higher quality. Industry discovered the solution in fully automated production cells and linked manufacturing, often known as Smart Manufacturing.
According to an Aberdeen Group research, insight into the performance of operations is the most important feature of Industry 4.0 for 74% of best-in-class businesses.
And what Industry 4.0 is doing is bringing together robots, teleoperation, and cloud technology to change business operations, industrial processes, and consumer services across industries. Service robots, ubiquitous connectivity and communication technology, building automation and management systems, sensor-equipped energy management systems, cloud and edge enabled infrastructure, mobile device management, wearable networks, and intelligent software applications are just a few of the supporting technologies. If that seems overwhelming, we'll break it down for you. Whether you're talking about a factory, an office, or a business, IoT (or Industrial IOT) and accompanying technologies may help you create a smarter workplace.
The catalysts for change
In its research report, Transforming Manufacturing with the Internet of Things, International Data Corporation (IDC) highlighted the following drivers that would impact why and how businesses invest in IoT.
Complex, dynamic value chains - As they explore new possibilities throughout the world, manufacturers participate in and manage complex, overlapping value chains that are always changing.
Manufacturing supply chains and product strategies are being reshaped to promote developing market growth sourced from and manufactured in emerging areas and local markets.
Traceability, transparency, brand, and reputation - Increased traceability and transparency will help manufacturers improve their ability to supply product quality and safeguard their reputations.
Customers' rising demands for tailored products and greater levels of service are forcing manufacturers to shorten their business cycles.
Converging technologies for manufacturing - For manufacturers to develop, create, and distribute their goods, technologies such as operational technology (OT) and information technology (IT), including the Internet of Things (IoT), are required.
Connectivity is everywhere - in devices, interfaces, and processes - and it extends to the edge, with manufacturers believing that the communication infrastructure will keep up.
Manufacturers are searching for the truth in data as they seek more value analysis of larger volumes and types of data, as well as information that will help them move closer to digital execution.
So, what exactly is 'connected manufacturing' or'smart manufacturing,' exactly? As we all know, the Internet of Things (IoT) is a network of uniquely identified endpoints (or "things") that communicate through IP connection without the need for human intervention. Manufacturers are adding software, sensors, and wireless connection to their goods in the industrial environment, laying the groundwork for a new era of operational efficiency through the use of IoT.
Do you think your company is ready for Industry 4.0?
According to Bernard Marr (What Everyone Should Know About Industry 4.0 - Forbes, June 20, 2016), a plant or system must have the following features to be deemed Industry 4.0:
Machines, devices, sensors, and people that link and interact with one another are referred to as interoperability.
Information transparency - in order to contextualize information, the systems construct a virtual duplicate of the actual environment using sensor data.
Technical help refers to a system's capacity to aid humans in making decisions and solving issues, as well as its ability to assist humans with activities that are too complex or dangerous for them to complete.
Decentralized decision-making refers to a system's ability to make basic decisions on its own and become as self-contained as feasible.
What does this mean for manufacturing?
Field service based on actual product performance data helps manufacturers and the service channel to enhance customer happiness and repair time metrics. Remote diagnosis, monitoring, and even repair of linked items allows manufacturers to maintain product quality standards while also enabling more loyal customer connections.
Efficiency - Ability to offer a constant supply of material to OEMs or large industries, as illustrated in the aviation fuel supply example, depending on production plans and real-time plant inventory status.
Quality - Recording real product performance, developing early warning and detection signals, and providing closed-loop feedback to improve future product quality.
Speed - Managing inventory locations over an increasingly complicated logistics network while having more visibility into real inventory. Order processing time is cut in half. Increased fulfillment capabilities, including the utilization of smaller, more localized facilities.
It isn't a question of whether or whether Industry 4.0 has arrived. (Because it has reshaped and continues to reshape production and supply). It all boils down to how soon we can equip ourselves to seize this opportunity and turn it into a competitive advantage.
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