by The Internet of Things (IoT) has already started transforming many industries and manufacturing is no exception. IoT is helping manufacturing companies improve operations, reduce costs, build better products and gain valuable data-driven insights. Let’s explore some key ways in which IoT is impacting the manufacturing sector.
Real-time Data and Analytics
Iot In Manufacturing allows manufacturers to collect and analyze data from networked machines, products and other assets in real-time. Sensors installed on factory equipment, production lines and logistics tools transmit operational data back to centralized systems. This live data provides unprecedented visibility into manufacturing processes and operations.
Manufacturers can monitor production yields, downtimes, resource consumption and more across all sites from a single dashboard. Any anomalies or inefficiencies can be detected right away. The data also offers predictive capabilities. For example, sensor data from machines can predict maintenance needs before failures occur, minimizing downtime.
Predictive maintenance is a major use case of IoT in manufacturing. By analyzing machine performance data over time, manufacturers can predict with reasonable certainty when maintenance should be performed. This helps replace maintenance practices from periodic to condition-based. Moving to predictive maintenance reduces unplanned downtimes and improves overall equipment effectiveness.
Advanced Process Management
With Iot In Manufacturing can optimize production flows, quality control and resource scheduling like never before. Automated data flows between machines and control systems enable lights-out or dark factories where much of the process runs autonomously. Robots and automated guided vehicles use sensor data for smart material movement within factories.
Real-time product and process information supports just-in-time manufacturing with minimal buffer stocks and waste. Sensor data and analytics also aid in advanced quality control. For example, audio sensors can detect defects during a production run much before they are visually detected. This allows manufacturers to proactively address quality issues mid-process.
IoT also optimizes resource use across manufacturing sites. Data-driven insights allow manufacturers to better allocate capital equipment, schedule workforce and manage energy/water use. Overall equipment effectiveness can improve when asset performance is optimized in this intelligent, connected way.
The Connected Supply Chain
IoT expands connectivity beyond factory floors to also link manufacturers with their extended supply chains. Suppliers, distributors, retailers and customers all leave digital footprints that offer strategic insights when connected.
Condition monitoring sensors on shipment vehicles and containers allow real-time shipment tracking, environmental monitoring and automated exception handling along the way. This reduces logistics costs and damages while ensuring on-time deliveries. Connected inventory systems optimize stock replenishment by accurately anticipating demands.
Meanwhile, customer usage data helps manufacturers innovate better products through technologies like product performance monitoring. Connected products provide usage patterns, maintenance signals and potential failures directly from the field. This closed-loop data benefits future product designs and services.
New Revenue Streams
The products and services landscape is also undergoing change. Manufacturers leverage IoT to generate new revenue streams beyond traditional sales. Subscription-based product-as-a-service models gain popularity as manufacturers retain ownership of core assets and optimize utilization.
And digital twins – virtual replicas of physical products, assets and processes – powered by IoT data offer simulation-based services for improved operations, training and more. At each customer touchpoint, IoT enhances experiences and builds loyalty through connectivity. Over time, services margins are expected to outweigh hardware margins for many manufacturing companies.
Improved Worker Safety and Productivity
Despite fears of job losses, IoT brings many opportunities for the manufacturing workforce. By automating hazardous and repetitive tasks, it enhances both productivity and safety. Exoskeletons augmented with sensors allow workers to lift heavier loads safely. And vision systems coupled with robots allow workers to operate machinery remotely from safer control stations.
IoT-enabled smart PPE (personal protective equipment) monitor worker vitals and locations for emergency alerts if needed. Connected training systems also improve skills through simulations and augmented reality. Digital work instructions remove scope for errors. The role of workers evolves to focus more on value-added tasks like supervision, problem-solving and product development.
Challenges and Adoption Barriers
While strong use cases exist, challenges remain in fully realizing IoT’s promise. Significant investments are needed to install sensors, connectivity infrastructure and integrate legacy systems. Data security and privacy concerns also persist due to increasing attack surfaces.
Standards and interoperability issues hinder plug-and-play deployment at scale. And talent shortages exist in specialized IoT skills like data science. Despite these, global manufacturers are rising to the occasion. Spending on industrial IoT is projected to grow at over 15% annually, accelerating the technology’s manufacturing transformation impact.
*Note:
1. Source: Coherent Market Insights, Public sources, Desk research
2. We have leveraged AI tools to mine information and compile it
