The Internet of Things(IoT) is referred to as the network of physical objects embedded with software, electronics, network connectivity, and sensors. All these collaboratively collect and exchange data.

IoT has given rise to the concept of smart homes and products with wireless connectivity (such as Alexa, lightbulbs, thermostats, etc.). According to one report, 79% of U.S. consumers are using at least one connected device at home. But, this technology has found its strong roots in an industry that predates the rise of smart appliances: manufacturing.

What does Industrial IoT Applications do?

The Industrial IoT Applications (IIoT) networks all the applied sensors and intelligent devices together and puts those technologies under one umbrella to employ the data directly on the manufacturing floor, and drive AI and predictive analysis.

To realize this disruptive technology, manufacturers attach the sensors to physical assets, present on their shop floors. Those sensors act as data gathering sources, and the data is then stored wirelessly and employed in machine learning and analytics to help determine relevant action.

Amongst all the areas of applications for IoT, manufacturing is poised to keep that first position globally at least until 2020, followed by the transportation industry. With digital transformation and Industry 4.0 hitting the market, manufacturing industries are obtaining more Industrial IoT (IIoT) projects, making them the prime investors of IIoT in the market.

Why Is The Manufacturing Industry Leading In IoT Usage?

The manufacturing industry is leading in the Internet of Things (IoT) for numerous reasons: some of them are historical, others are related to the beginning of the Industry 4.0 revolution. Also, there are multiple use cases and actual IoT deployments that offer rapid return and enable manufacturers to achieve digital transformations. These changes are done for several reasons, such as automation, competitive benefits, efficiency, and customer-centricity. A few other reasons are due to the benefits which are offered by data analysis across the manufacturing value chain to tap into new revenue sources, which is a critical aspect of the digital transformation in manufacturing.

Predictive Maintenance on Shopfloors

One of the most compelling reasons why the manufacturing industry has adopted IIoT is its effectiveness in improving operating efficiencies. For instance, if a machine breaks down, the interconnected sensors can determine the problem, and consequently, trigger a service request to the respective engineers. IIoT also possesses the ability to work together with an EAM CMMS, where corresponding engineers can receive these generated requests on their mobile devices. As a result, they can instantly reach the location to understand the issue and repair it or assign it to another engineer for resolution.

Moreover, IIoT can play a significant role in predictive maintenance by foretelling when a machine is likely to breakdown or when its productive life cycle is about to end. It undoubtedly takes the preventive maintenance approach to another level by securing the tools and saving thousands of dollars for manufacturers on unwarranted replacements or repairs.

Conclusion

Manufacturers are considering diverse verticals of IoT to solve the problems faced on shop floors and production processes. IoT in manufacturing has resulted in achieving higher performance of the overall production monitoring system.

IIoT is transforming the manufacturing industry by converting its conventional, linear manufacturing supply chains into interconnected, dynamic systems. The technology is efficient in changing the way products are produced and delivered. Ultimately they make factories safer, more agile, and efficient for human operators. And in many cases, they also save a lot of unnecessary expenditures.