Will Manufacturers Be Able to Meet Future Challenges?

Automation and robotics in manufacturing are nothing new. So why are manufacturers making such a big fuss about the Internet of Things? These are the collective bits of technology, such as sensors, that are connected to computer software through a wireless connection. Data analysis is the answer, and there are several issues companies must examine in the present to take full advantage of IoT devices to deal with future challenges.

Data Storage

Once the connected sensors on the devices collect the information, it has to be stored somewhere. When a company has more information about a particular factory process, it has a better data analysis model. Computer software and algorithms improve with more data collection. All of this means companies must store these copious amounts of data, and that normally means using cloud-based information storage.

IoT and IT

Moving forward, the integrated data analysis software needs employees who understand the system. Workers should know IoT and IT. The type of employees needed for factory work is changing from physical laborers to people who know computer programs and how to merge computer hardware and software.

Real-Time Intelligence

IoT devices and the software the run them produce real-time intelligence. This information is only effective when manufacturers know what to do with it. When a robotic arm shuts down after a sensor trips it and shuts down the line, manufacturers must find out what happened and how to improve the issue that caused the shut down. Sharing the information with everyone is vital as part of IoT.

Predicting Events

The ultimate reason to have this push towards data analysis is the ability to predict future events. IoT devices and sensors let workers know when machines need maintenance and provide information regarding how fast a line should run for optimal performance and how to make adjustments to get the most out of the automated system. Consider a sensor and a computer program that can sense a five-millisecond delay in a computer chip in a robotic arm. Those five milliseconds may cause a part to go on wrong, which can cause quality issues in an entire product line. Sensors combined with information provided by an IoT device can let technicians know what changes to make before these problems occur.

More Investment

Around 35 percent of manufacturers use IoT devices regularly, and one of the future challenges facing data analysis is a lack of investment on the part of manufacturers. As prices of technology decrease and the cost of cloud-based systems and sensors come down, more manufacturers can spend money on these innovative systems. IoT devices can improve machinery a company already has, eliminating the need to buy all-new automation equipment.

Manufacturers must invest in these data analysis tools sooner rather than later to maintain a successful operation. Otherwise, companies might lose their competitive edge in the sea of manufacturers and startups.

Photo courtesy of onux tech at Flickr.com