Last quarter I wrote about some of the devices we’re installing in our home and how some of those might be used in an industrial environment too. Click here if you want to read my previous blog and this quick read hopefully gets you thinking further about how you too can get started…
Let’s talk about some of the tangible items associated with IoT. There are real business cases associated with a well thought out strategy. One might be reduced time / cost associated with driving across town, or further, to check on something when you can remotely diagnose the situation. I can’t think of a single retail store these days that doesn’t have dozens or more cameras, why not your manufacturing floor at a different site?
My brother and I recently talked about the cameras many people have on their front door / doorbell and at first he said it creeps him out. Think of house sitting for someone and they know when you come and go, sure a little awkward and one use case. What about when you have a very important package arrive, wouldn’t it be nice to know it’s there so someone can sign / pick it up? What about the security associated with a late night visit from someone you don’t know trying to get in? Cameras can be used in all sorts of good ways; and let’s face it, it’s very hard to hide from them.
Have you “Googled” your address lately? Check out the street view and you might even be caught opening the door when the picture was taken. All this information is being gathered, how will you use it? What can you use it for? The answer might be finding a location you’ve not been to before. So much quicker and easier to track movement than using a paper map from years past. What other information can you use the GPS information in your phone for? Maybe a proximity notification(s) should someone get too close to a piece of equipment they shouldn’t?
How about a healthcare example; where someone is going for surgery and the doctor wants to make sure they’re doing the prep work prescribed. Perhaps they need to walk a mile a day, maybe it’s keeping their heart rate at a certain level during the couple of weeks before surgery, etc. All these types of things are other examples of IoT and typically involve relatively inexpensive devices. How about machine learning; there are several devices out there today that can help you automate things with your voice, these are all learning and getting smarter. How can this help you keep your hands free while performing another task…
What if you could walk up to a pump with your Maximo (or other CMMS) Work Order and see the parts schematic on the tablet with the Work Order details? Or even better, what if you could use a pair of Augmented Reality glasses to view the disassembly details while you keep your hands on the wrench and equipment?
Hopefully some of these examples start to create ideas of how IoT can help you and your business. Take it slow, don’t try to enable everything in your plant tomorrow, it takes time, resources, skills and money. In the end, it’s worth it and can make things a better place.
