As variety of fields are currently experiencing a technologically driven transformation, from breakthroughs in AI software to new methods of detecting medical conditions, technology has been evolving at an exponential pace.
One technological innovation that is having a considerable impact on many industries is internet of things (IoT) technology. In particular, this technology is proving to be extremely beneficial in industrial sectors. Understanding the benefits that industrial internet of things (IIoT) is having on its field can help put its rising popularity into perspective.
Here is why IIoT is one of the top emerging software development trends today.
What is IIoT?
Prior to understanding the importance and value of IIoT, it’s important to have a clear understanding of what IIoT actually is. Internet of things is a term used to describe the process of equipping objects, or “things,” with sensors and other technological capabilities that can communicate with other devices through the internet. For example, a coffee maker can be connected to one’s phone, allowing one to turn it on remotely through a different device.
When IoT technology is applied in industrial settings, it is referred to as industrial internet of things (IIoT). In essence, it allows industrial machinery to be connected to other machinery and devices. In addition, IIoT typically takes advantage of data collection methods and machine learning technology to constantly analyze and improve various aspects of the operations. This can include software determining new solutions and automatically implementing them to make an industrial operation more efficient.
In recent years, more and more industrial enterprises have begun to take advantage of the incredible power of IIoT technology. As we progress deeper into the future, it is more than likely that IIoT technology will become an integral aspect of most, if not all, industrial operations.
Benefits of IIoT to Industrial Operations
To truly grasp how revolutionary IIoT technology is, it’s necessary to explore some of the key benefits that it is offering to industrial operations. Here are some of the many benefits of IIoT to industrial operations.
Improving Efficiency
In industrial operations, improving efficiency is typically an important aspect of maintaining a profitable operation. As such, operators typically strive to make their operations as efficient as possible. In recent years, IIoT technology has allowed them to do so in incredibly effective ways.
Given that IIoT technology records the data of various machines and utilizes machine learning to analyze it, it can create new insights about improving efficiency. For example, it may detect that different machines work at different speeds on the same products. This difference in speed may be causing some materials to have to be stored between different operations, ultimately making production take longer. IIoT technology can detect this inefficiency and generate solutions to remedy it.
By optimizing industrial operations to be more efficient, IIoT is revolutionizing industrial operations in important and impactful ways. In particular, it is allowing operators to have more streamlined operations on a consistent basis.
Accurately Storing Products and Materials
One significant challenge in the manufacturing industry is that of storing materials and products. This is an especially challenging obstacle for operators who run large-scale operations, creating many different products, and using many different materials. Thankfully, IIoT is helping operators optimize the way they store their products by analyzing a number of different factors.
Some factors that IIoT technology will take into consideration are the availability of space in a factory or warehouse and the schedules of when products are meant to be shipped out. While analyzing a multitude of factors like these can be difficult for humans, IIoT technology can rapidly generate the optimal storing solutions for operators. This being the case, it makes sense that this technology is becoming a staple in industrial settings.
Mitigating Costs
Given the many different aspects of industrial operations, maintaining a profitable operation can sometimes be difficult. Some costs associated with industrial operations include warehouse costs, employee costs, machinery costs, transportation costs, and repair costs. Given the many expenses that can affect the profitability of industrial businesses, mitigating costs is an essential aspect of thriving in the space.
IIoT technology can help operators cut costs in a number of effective ways, some of which would be difficult for a human to detect. For example, IIoT can automate many processes that require a human employee while also doing so more efficiently. This would save operators the cost of an extra employee while also optimizing productivity, further saving costs.
In addition, IIoT technology can help operators stay aware of the state of their machinery. These can prove to be incredibly useful and important insights that can have a large impact on profitability.
For example, if an operator preemptively knows when he’ll have to fix a machine, it won’t break unexpectedly in the middle of an operation. If it did, it may cost more to repair quickly and could cause clients to be upset that their shipment was late, causing them to find a new supplier. As such, IIoT can help industrial operators save money in many key ways that can help them stay profitable.
Crafting Higher-Quality Products
For most industrial operators, crafting high-quality products is an essential part of thriving as a business. If products are inconsistent in quality, the other operators they supply will likely switch to a different supplier. Maintaining a high standard of products is an important part of most industrial operations.
IIoT technology can help operators maintain a consistent quality of products by using sensors to detect any defects or anomalies. Though this may seem inconsequential, this is actually an extremely difficult task for large-scale operations that produce scores of products each day. IIoT streamlines this process by immediately notifying operators when defects are detected. As such, operators can readjust quickly and ensure that their machines are consistently crafting high-quality products that meet the standards of their clients.
Increasing Safety in Industrial Settings
In industrial settings, employee safety is a huge concern that can sometimes be difficult to maintain consistently. This is due to employees having to work with heavy machinery that has the potential to significantly harm them when used incorrectly. Thankfully, IIoT can help operators detect certain risks and keep their factory safe without having to micromanage every aspect of an operation.
While IIoT sensors typically analyze machine data, they can also be set to record and analyze employee data. As such, these sensors are able to detect when certain employees are working in unsafe manners. In this way, industrial operators can be notified when workers are working in ways that increase their risk of being injured. As such, IIoT is a tool that equips operators with more opportunities to keep their workers safe consistently.
IIoT is Revolutionizing Industrial Operations
In a world where production is becoming more rapid and consumers are used to having access to any products they desire instantaneously, optimizing industrial operations is a key aspect to operating successfully in today’s evolving world. Thankfully, IIoT technology allows industrial operators to improve their operations and industrial settings in many important ways.
From cutting costs to improving efficiency, IIoT is slowly revolutionizing the ways that industrial operations can be optimized. This being the case, it’s no wonder that this technology is slowly becoming a staple in warehouses and factories worldwide.
About the Author
Ryan Ayers is a researcher and consultant within multiple industries including information technology, blockchain and business development. Always up for a challenge, Ayers enjoys working with startups as well as Fortune 500 companies. When not at work, Ayers loves reading science fiction novels and watching the LA Clippers.
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