The manufacturing Internet of Things

The Internet of Things (IoT) has been extensively discussed and debated, and interest in this topic is only expected to increase in the years to come. Knowledge of the power that it will place in the hands of businesses and consumers alike is almost science fiction. Automating processes and sharing an inconceivable amount of information have caught the public’s imagination.

Every industry could gain from adopting a form of IoT but one industry can take immediate advantage – manufacturing. Unlike other industries that may take time adjusting to the automation of processes, manufacturing has been a mechanized, automated industry for a long time, so it should adapt easily.

Some examples of how manufacturing can benefit include:

• Machines: An IoT device set to measure various components’ performance – whether directly, such as measuring speed, precision, and alignment, or indirectly in measuring vibrations, noise, and temperature levels – will be able to identify an anomaly, inform the maintenance team, and if necessary, halt production to prevent mishaps.
• Employees: It is important that employees receive real-time information that is relevant to them and to customers, as soon as possible. With IoT, a customer-facing employee informed of a delay could pass the information on immediately, or organizations could have their IoT devices directly inform the customers.
• Inventory and Logistics: IoT will make managing inventory much simpler. Automated ordering when stocks are low will prevent delays in production due to insufficient supplies. In logistics, by using unique product tags, organizations can track material from factory storeroom to the customer’s doorstep.
   

The greatest boon of IoT is the ability to make decisions, modifications, and corrections based on real-time, reliable, and relevant information. IoT can reduce downtime during production and optimize stock movement inside and outside of an organization. It enables cooperation and coordination through better communication. With the aid of IoT devices, a manufacturing organization could bring about greater efficiency in production and delivery. It could improve customer experience through improved accuracy and reliability of communication.

IoT enabled choices will be well worth the investment. It is very likely that manufacturers will be the fastest adopter of IoT in the coming years; the only question is whether they will do it as fast as they should.

Happiest Minds Technologies
www.happiestminds.com

About the author: Anil Jain is Industry leader for manufacturing and consumer goods industry verticals with Happiest Minds Technologies. Jain can be reached at business@happiestminds.com.