Better Decision Making with Industrial IoT Solutions

Companies operating in the industrial realm are constantly under pressure to do more with less.

13:05 27 October 2020

Productivity improvements are what drives industrial businesses towards better performance. We’ve seen huge technology advances in this space, back from manual factory work, through to the installation of machinery. Now, we’re seeing all sorts of automation taking place in the industrial sector.

 

One of the biggest leaps in technology has been the Internet of Things (IoT). This technology allows better management of assets, better control of energy and other services, and boasts huge productivity gains. With the use of enhanced technology and data, here’s how industrial IoT solutions are changing the world.

 

It’s all about data

 

Firstly, we need understand that industrial decision-making is all about data. Profits need to increase while costs need to go down. It’s simple math when you look at it that way, but there’s so much more to it. IoT technology is great for controlling assets, distributing energy and better managing resources. But its real benefit lies in the delivery of data.

 

Industrial IoT solutions provide huge amounts of data relating to every aspect of an operation, from productivity to safety matters. By using quality IoT platforms, managers can extract data for almost everything, allowing them to make smarter operational decisions.

 

A case for automation?

 

Automation plays a huge role in modern business. From offices to industrial factories, everyone is looking for ways to automate mundane, repetitive tasks. Often, this involves using machines (IT systems) or physical machinery to not only replicate but improve the work of humans.

 

The data derived from an industrial IoT system shows how assets can be better utilised. For example, on a production line you can identify the slowest parts of the process, or even the most repetitive. Armed with this data, managers can look for automation solutions for the current least productive areas.

 

Identifying risks

 

IoT solutions are also being used to identify workplace health and safety risks. This can be done in a few different ways. One example is using IoT data to locate parts of your operation that may be clunky, or problem-prone. This could indicate potentially harmful faults in equipment.

 

Conversely, IoT sensors and robotic systems can even visually scan an area to look for safety risks. Machine learning combines with IoT to deliver amazing risk reporting to building managers.

 

Preventative maintenance before costly repairs

 

No industrial business likes to experience delays or shutdowns due to broken equipment and systems. Industrial IoT solutions feed information back to a central hub that can be monitored in real time. This can alert controllers to a degradation in performance, highlighting the need for maintenance.

 

By keeping on top of regular maintenance requirements, businesses can avoid costly repairs and other associated safety risks.

 

Better use of all assets

 

Overall, IoT solutions in the industrial sector allow for the better control of all assets. The beauty is, you can even get real-time data on remote assets. For example, you could also analyse how much a certain remote asset is being used each week. If it could be better used elsewhere, or serve another purpose, an immediate productivity gain is made. And it’s all thanks to industrial IoT solutions.