Manufacturing executives are keenly aware of the power of the Internet of Things (IoT) — and its potential to improve plant performances. Here’s how to identify the best IoT opportunities in your plant.
Manufacturing executives are keenly aware of the power of the Internet of Things (IoT) — and its potential to improve plant performances. Most manufacturers (85%) plan to deploy IoT technologies and increase their company’s application of smart devices in production equipment and processes over the next two years.[1]
Moving forward with IoT-enabled processes can improve plant quality, speed, and costs — more than half of manufacturers cite those as IoT objectives[2] — and generate competitive advantage. But not all IoT opportunities yield the same returns.
The applicability of the IoT to various production processes varies widely, with shipping, warehousing, and document management topping the list of excellent or good opportunities (Figure 1).[3] But every plant is unique. A labor-intensive plant will surely apply the IoT differently than an asset-intensive facility.
To identify the best IoT opportunities in your plant, ask yourself:
- Where could IoT technologies prevent a safety or environmental disaster?
- Where could IoT technologies alert management in real time to quality problems?
- Which real-time plant insights would help to optimize workflows and productivity?
- Which machines warrant 24/7 IoT monitoring?
- Where do legacy sensors, controls, and other devices create cybersecurity problems?
- Which processes would suppliers want to monitor (e.g., inventory levels for their components or materials)?
- Which processes would customers want to monitor (e.g., order readiness and logistics status)?
The list is long, but time is short. Start your IoT journey today.
[1] MPI Internet of Things Study, The MPI Group.
[2] Ibid.
[3] Ibid.
© 2017 The MPI Group
