{"id":6761,"date":"2018-09-06T09:16:08","date_gmt":"2018-09-06T16:16:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog-prod.qad.com\/blog\/?p=6761"},"modified":"2020-08-03T21:45:54","modified_gmt":"2020-08-04T04:45:54","slug":"driving-smart-manufacturing-supply-chain-improvements-iiot","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.qad.com\/blog\/2018\/09\/driving-smart-manufacturing-supply-chain-improvements-iiot","title":{"rendered":"Driving Smart Manufacturing and Supply Chain Improvements with the IIoT"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”6762″ img_size=”full”][vc_column_text]Manufacturing is changing dramatically. <\/span>Industry 4.0<\/span><\/a> is taking shape and being viewed as the advent of smart technologies based on the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT). It\u2019s affecting everyone, with impacts that ripple across the supply chain.<\/span><\/p>\n

Your IIoT Primer<\/span><\/h2>\n

The IIoT represents the convergence of three technologies: connectivity, low-cost sensors and advanced analytics. Let\u2019s break this down:<\/span><\/p>\n

Connectivity<\/b> – WiFi and Bluetooth enabled devices like thermostats or smart speakers help make our lives better and easier. Now those same technologies are making their way into factories. Machines are being networked, but so too are individual sensors.<\/span><\/p>\n

Low-cost sensors<\/b> \u2013 Accelerometers, temperature sensors, light sensors and similar devices are growing smaller and cheaper to a point where it\u2019s practical to monitor every property and parameter of every piece of manufacturing<\/a> equipment.<\/span><\/p>\n

Data analytics<\/b> \u2013 Sometimes referred to as \u201cBig Data\u201d, cloud-based software can trawl through immense data sets to identify patterns and trends otherwise undetectable.<\/span><\/p>\n

Adding connectivity to sensors and integrating them into manufacturing equipment can prove beneficial. You will then have machines that can report a wealth of data about their operating conditions and what they\u2019re doing with this data. Feed this into Big Data tools and suddenly engineers and operations managers have far more information about what\u2019s happening on the factory floor.<\/span><\/p>\n

Process Insights and Smart Manufacturing<\/span><\/h2>\n

Here are some ways in which the IIoT benefits manufacturers:<\/span><\/p>\n

Improve asset utilization<\/b> \u2013 Most manufacturers measure Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) to identify where capacity is being lost. Changeovers, waiting for material, shift changes, scrap and low yields are just a few examples. IIoT technology provides data on which to base critical decisions.<\/span><\/p>\n

Increase flexibility<\/b> \u2013 Real time data on machine availability, speeds and so on, can be fed into the Cloud\u00a0ERP system<\/a><\/span>, enabling faster decision-making and more accurate scenario evaluation. For example, when a customer asks for a rush order, the manufacturer can see how to fit it in using real data rather than estimates.<\/span><\/p>\n

Machine condition monitoring<\/b> \u2013 Temperatures, vibration signatures and motor torque are just a few examples. Such data enables predictive maintenance, fixing problems before they lead to breakdowns. This benefits OEE, enables better schedule adherence and reduces the amount of maintenance being performed by letting managers prioritize and do only what\u2019s needed.<\/span><\/p>\n

Quality<\/b> \u2013 Manufacturing operations often struggle with variability in incoming materials. Adapting to differences in material strength, dimensions and finish slows production, increases waste and results in inconsistent products that disappoint customers. But machines that can sense such differences adjust parameters to achieve high levels of consistency. In other words, they\u2019re \u201csmart.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

If we were to sum up these changes in a phrase, it would be: lower costs, less waste, higher quality, but also, more flexibility.<\/span><\/p>\n

Some IIoT Examples<\/span><\/h2>\n

These <\/span>advanced technologies<\/span><\/a> and concepts are newer, so applications are actively being sought and developed. A few examples of the IIoT and smart manufacturing at work include:<\/span><\/p>\n