Think back to the early days of the Internet. You can still hear the dial-up sound as the modem connected you to the World Wide Web. Painfully slow – and yet amazing at the same time – it was hard to imagine how this technology would change our lives.
Similar to a rock thrown into a pond, we’ve witnessed the ripple effect of the Internet over the last couple of decades.
The next big rock making waves in the technological pond is the Internet of Things. IoT is “disrupting businesses, governments, and consumers and transforming how they interact with the world.”1
Adoption rates for IoT are accelerating – with worldwide enterprise adoption rates approaching 43%.2 However, the scope of applications for IoT solutions is still in its infancy.
IoT Accelerates the Digital Transformation in Manufacturing
IDC reports that the manufacturing sector made the largest IoT investment in 2016, spending $178 billion. Manufacturers have initially used IoT to optimize processes, monitor equipment, and conduct predictive maintenance on assets. However, the number of outward investments for using IoT is on the rise.3
Additional IoT examples in manufacturing include:
- Smart factories with sensors that collect data on performance of machines and systems for proactive maintenance and improving overall operational efficiency
- Using temperature, moisture, and vibration sensors on critical tools/equipment to predict failures and/or optimize schedule for preventative maintenance
- Automating inventory management, using radio-frequency identification (RFID) for product tracking through manufacturing line and/or supply chain
- Identifying bottlenecks on the operations line using sensors on carts that move the product (or on the product itself) to optimize tooling numbers and locations
- Maximizing the potential of just-in-time manufacturing
- Creating smart products that provide OEMs with operating data and enabling two-way product support
- Developing connected products that inform the supply chain about predicted demand for aftermarket parts
There are limitless opportunities for IoT in the manufacturing sector. But, there’s more to it than installing sensors on products or equipment and calling it “smart.”
IoT solutions will benefit your organization when you’re thoughtful about the purpose and role that they play.
Learn more by reading The Why, What, and How of IoT: 50+ Examples Across 11 Industries. Download the guide, which explores IoT applications across 11 industries, 5 considerations for establishing IoT solutions, and outlines a strategic process for implementing IoT.
Sources:
1 Business Insider
2 Gartner
3 IDC
