Today, we'll talk about the Internet of Things (not Stranger Things) and how industrial machines and systems use innovative technologies to connect and communicate with each other, collect and analyze data in real time. In other words, IoT will become your new best friend for monitoring and improving your production.
The first internet-connected object appeared in 1982 at a university in Pennsylvania. It was a beverage dispenser that could report its fill level and the temperature of the drinks. Since then, the development of IoT has accelerated, experiencing incredible growth and finding multiple applications over the following years.
IoT today is found in our kitchens, pockets, wrists, hospitals, transportation means, on machines, and even on our desks. They are everywhere, seamlessly integrated into our lives to the point of becoming commonplace. But let’s get back to the point! Industrial IoT within production sites.
For many years, factories have been equipped with machines and objects fitted with sensors capable of collecting data and information. Before the widespread adoption of IoT, this information was limited to the operation of the machines. Now, with IoT, it is possible to collect larger volumes of higher quality information, making daily operations in factories and for the people working there much easier.
By equipping devices with sensors, software, and connectivity, they can now communicate with each other to collect data, store it, and then analyze it to gain precise insights for understanding operations autonomously.
The main goal is to simplify the daily routines of operators by enhancing efficiency, productivity, and safety in the workshops. This also allows for communication between machines and humans, thus facilitating decision-making, automating mundane tasks, and preventing breakdowns.
In summary, IoT has the potential to transform industries by providing a massive amount of high-quality data in real time.
The operation of IoT relies on interconnected systems of smart sensors deployed on machines that collect data and transmit it to a gateway, which then distributes the information to the people working on these machines.
And because we really want you to understand, here are the main steps:
👉 Data Collection: Sensors installed on or within your infrastructure can analyze all industrial operations to produce data, for example, about the state of your equipment, your productivity levels, etc.
👉 Data Transmission: All collected data is transmitted via the internet or other protocols to operators or managers who can then process it to make informed decisions.
👉 Data Storage and Processing: The collected data can then be stored to create a solid base of information useful for spotting trends or identifying potential anomalies. Algorithms can be integrated to make this system even more efficient.
👉 Action in Real Time: All this information is then used to trigger actions in real time to optimize processes, reduce breakdowns, and continuously simplify the daily routines of operators.
👉 In the industrial domain, you can find IoT almost everywhere: temperature sensors on your machines, control cameras, machine understanding sensors, vibration sensors for data transmission, time-keeping systems, etc.
You've likely already understood; having IoT systems brings numerous advantages for you and your entire team. But we'll summarize the main ones anyway to convince you that we can't evolve without them. IoT helps you:
➡️ Improve operational efficiency
➡️ Provide information to enhance the maintenance of your production equipment
➡️ Produce better on a daily basis
➡️ Achieve higher performance without necessarily working harder
➡️ Improve safety within your factory
➡️ Make quick and pragmatic decisions
➡️ Gain better flexibility
➡️ Simply automate your processes
We've listed the main advantages of using IoT on production sites, and of course, they vary from one sector or activity to another.
Like all innovative systems, IoT has its limits and can pose risks to the business. However, these risks are minor and can be managed if you anticipate and implement solutions to counter them.
The main challenge companies face with these new technologies is implementing substantial cybersecurity systems to ensure that data is not exploited by the wrong people. Indeed, storing data is essential for proper processing, but securing it is crucial. That's why it's essential to invest in secure systems to ensure the safety of all your stored and live-transmitted data.
Although real, the threat should not deter you from equipping your organization with IoT, as the benefits are significant. Risks can largely be managed with cybersecurity tools or through logical and straightforward management of your IT systems.
The Internet of Things has become essential in the processes and organizations within factories, and it will continue to transform our ways of doing and thinking about productivity.
All that remains is for you to leverage the potential it offers and to bet on this technology, which has become more than just a trend and promises to revolutionize the coming years!