If one reviews the history of manufacturing, there are four distinct manufacturing industrial revolutions spanning from the initial mechanical production facilities to mass production to use of electronics and IT to IIoT and systems integration.

The fourth industrial revolution, the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), will allow manufacturers to leverage amazing amounts of sensor and network data, apply advanced analytics and further utilize new technology such as robots and 3-D printing to improve quality and output.

IIoT is about connecting devices, sensors, building and improving manufacturing execution systems then applying intelligence and analytics to understand or improve the performance of the existing devices. The aim is to monitor, build parameters, sophisticated controls and search for solutions that will lessen the downtime and improve the productivity of the asset.

Companies no longer have the luxury of being anything but data-driven. Data used to be something to simply maintain and manage but now, it’s a valuable asset that companies use to gain a competitive edge. With change happening at the speed of light, How are manufacturers preparing to take advantage of the massive amounts of data that is available and more importantly, how are they using that data to really take advantage of the power IIoT delivers?

Source: PTC

How Data Analytics is changing Industrial IIoT of the U.S. manufacturing industry!

Companies that understand the data patterns and trends and position themselves to prepare for the impending advances will most certainly gain a competitive edge in the global marketplace. As we begin to peel back the layers of IIoT, one sees that there is a strong potential for a shift to occur that will change the entire manner in which manufacturing companies operate similar to what the manufacturing industry saw when they were first implementing automation and began using IT and other electronics. As a result, manufacturing leaders are seeking to develop formal and informal IIoT strategies that will position their companies to take advantage of new opportunities to streamline efficiencies, reduce downtime and stimulate profitability sooner rather than later.

While some progressive manufacturers see where the industry is headed, many are only at the starting gate of the next wave of innovation fueled by IIoT applications and solutions. According to a recent study by Smart Industry, many manufacturers are focused on learning and benchmarking to formulate winning strategies. Many will be using the findings to reduce operational costs, optimize asset utilization, improve worker productivity, enhance workplace safety, enhance the customer experience and create new business models and revenue streams.

IIoT Will Produce More “A-Ha” Moments for Manufacturers!

The best way for the manufacturing industry to capitalize on IIoT is by gathering more data from sensors and systems and utilizing it to make business-driven decisions. While that may seem as though it is not an easy task, by adding advanced analytics solutions now, manufacturers will most certainly have more “a-ha” moments as they produce insights previously clouded by uncertainty or unattainable due to limited resources and time.

The advanced platforms will enable manufacturers to gather the right data, at the right time which can be leveraged to make well-informed, and most importantly, proactive business decisions. These tools will provide more insight and will enable manufacturers to develop a major engine to identify and create new products, services and profit centers all while simultaneously improving production efficiency, reducing costs, preventing downtime, ensuring quality and enhancing their overall ability to strategically plan business operations.

Some manufacturers are already beginning to think this way and are working with systems providers that deliver business intelligence and advanced analytics solutions. At Sightline Systems, we provide our customers with time series data, predictive analysis, visualization, advanced alerting capability and more in real time to help manufacturers do more than simply gather data and highlight challenges. By simultaneously collecting and correlating thousands of data points, Sightline helps the manufacturer realize a higher level of insight than thought possible.

Companies like INSPIRONICS are paving the way for manufacturers to take full advantage of the power of IIoT. We can help manufacturers analyze data from sensors and production runs, which in turn, helps improve product quality and reduce costs.

The advanced INSPIRONICS analytics tool analyzes massive volumes of data created during the manufacturing process and has the ability to correlate the data in seconds. The results enable engineers to quickly make process improvements which can improve quality and reduce costs. This analysis and correlation is in addition to the traditional use for IT performance monitoring and capacity planning resources.

Manufacturers Aren’t Really Sure Where to Begin

Data is being collected by sensors, PLCs and more to the point some manufacturers are overwhelmed with data and aren’t really sure where to start. Many manufacturers are taking a very close look at the data they want to collect and how they will use the information to streamline efficiencies, realize opportunities and produce a sizeable return on investment (ROI).

As the manufacturing landscape advances due to IIoT, manufacturers must begin to take a more holistic view of the entire company to better understand how one part of the operation affects other parts in order to take advantage of enormous opportunities for improvement and to proactively gain the competitive edge. Manufacturers are concerned by a host of obstacles for adopting IIoT in their companies, with the most notable being cybersecurity. Cybersecurity concerns, lack of overall IIoT knowledge internally, legacy products that do not have obvious IIoT connectivity and lack of senior management support and commitment, just to name a few, are among the most pressing issues that keep manufacturers up at night.

In order to wrap their arms around these challenges, proactive manufacturers will need to gain a better understanding of how to leverage advanced analytics. The traditional manufacturing business model is quite reactive and relies on management to be the primary driver of change, production that is driven by a sales forecast, and system improvements if, and only if, it is perceived to be “broken.”

As manufacturers begin to take a more holistic approach, many are working with internal teams, suppliers and consultants to decide the most valuable data to collect, what systems require enhancement, how the data will help them realize opportunities as well as how to gauge the full impact of IIoT changes within and outside the company. The two most critical issues are data management and cybersecurity. These areas will be critical challenges for the company to address as it affects future competitiveness

INSPIRONICS provides sophisticated, yet remarkably easy-to-use business intelligence and advanced analytics solution that leverages time series data, predictive analysis, visualization, advanced alerting capability and more in real time to help customers do more than simply gather data and highlight challenges. We have all learned to adapt and adopt so differently, as we connect more and more. In the IIoT world, there is predicted value across all of the connections (McKinsey view) and as we see more solutions emerging, as ways to serve that "connected" need market growth will more than likely simply accelerate away.

In many ways, we are all confused and still guessing or predicting, because of so much uncertainty and not honestly knowing what comes next in technology invention that changes the position. At INSPIRONICS, we have learned in our engagements and growing reliance just on the mobile platforms. Speed, scale, scope are all accelerating away, and companies need to find the positioning in this evolution and industrial internet. By simultaneously collecting and correlating thousands of data points, the INSPIRONICS can help bring upon higher level of insight for better IIoT where the solutions will enhance efficiency, improve accuracy and increase profitability. 

Credit: Paul Hobcraft, Advisor on Innovation Transformation IIoT-World.com.

http://iiot-world.com/