If you’re in the manufacturing business, you’ve probably heard terms like IoT, IIoT, and Industry 4.0 being thrown around a lot. Yet, very few know what they encompass, what they actually mean, and, most importantly, how they can help your business.
In fact, that’s why probably you’re here now!
Well, look no further. In this little article, we’ll go over some basics of IIoT to help you better understand what it is and how it can be used. Also, we will cover some ways why it can be beneficial to your business in the long run. Let’s crack straight into it!
First, let us discuss what IIoT is. IIoT stands for Industrial Internet of Things. By definition, it is a concept that encompasses the idea that machines and systems within an industry can gather, analyze, share, and put into action large quantities of data to improve efficiency.
What this means, in actuality, is that the machines in your facility can become embedded with sensors that gather data, and this data is then processed in powerful computers, allowing you to create an automated system of manufacture.
The idea itself comes from IoT (Internet of Things), where many individual devices become integrated into a network designed to improve their efficiency and make the management of such devices much easier.
Think of the concept of a smart house – your fridge, your oven, dishwasher, laundry, even your juicer – all of those appliances are interconnected and connected to your Wi-Fi. These devices then send a steady stream of data to a central hub (your smartphone), and from there, you can “order” them to do stuff through, say, Alexa. Pretty neat, right?
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The key overarching concept here is cloud computing. Cloud computing is the practice of delivering services (data storage, servers, analysis, software, AI) to you via the Internet. By using these services via the Internet, the processing of data then becomes much faster and easier, as you no longer need to have physical components on hand to do all the work.
This speed and analytical power are what give cloud computing such rising popularity. This year, cloud computing revenue has reached $482 billion, and it is projected to grow exponentially. This, in turn, gives such concepts as IoT and IIoT enough credibility to be considered a viable mode of operation for future industrial facilities.
Now that we know what IIoT is let’s take a look at how IIoT can improve your business. As we said, the goal of IIoT is to improve the efficiency of your workflow through the gathering and analysis of data. But what are the actual end results of using IIoT?
The keyword here is operational efficiency. Having a deep and intimate understanding of the data you’re collecting allows you to make very informed decisions on what to do and what not to do to improve your manufacturing process.
Before IIoT, people had to make decisions based on experience in the field and very limited data to boost productivity. Naturally, analyzing data this way was a slow process and often prone to human error. Projections for the future were always a bit skewed and made based on hunches and past cases. With IIoT, this is a thing of the past.
Being able to analyze such tremendous amounts of data allows you to not only maximize the use of your assets (mechanical, as well as human), but it also enables you to predict downtimes and maintenance and act in a way that would avoid those things.
IIoT also opens avenues thought to be, essentially, science fiction. Digital twin technology (3D models of actual physical assets and processes analyzed in real-time) are advanced simulations that have already been put into use in many industries across the globe.
These digital twins provide insight into the inner workings of your product or system with such astounding accuracy, that they practically give you the power of foresight, allowing for extremely well-informed decisions in the future.
IIoT, essentially, enables you to circumvent any hiccups in your workflow, thus immensely boosting your productivity. It is no wonder that almost 48% of decision-makers in their respective industries have told Statista that they use IIoT to aid them when making decisions concerning supply, inventory, and asset management.
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Now, let’s see what considerations you need to make when introducing IIoT to your manufacturing process and overall business model.
One thing most people do wrong is overloading their system with data. Yes, indeed, IIoT is designed to handle large amounts of data. However, consider that some of it just isn’t necessary to optimize your manufacturing process.
Having good smart manufacturing software will definitely enable you to analyze and refine all that data, but you don’t need to have all of it analyzed. Concentrate your efforts on the most important systems and machines, and you’ll avoid having a clogged database that will slow down your overall workflow.
Secondly, you need to curb your expectations a bit. Real-time analysis doesn’t equal instant analysis. Your software, no matter how good, won’t be able to process that much data in mere seconds. Still, cloud computing software is incredibly powerful, and you’ll get your analytics done quick enough for it to be useful to you.
One of the considerations you’ll have to make when implementing IIoT is the compatibility of your equipment and your sensors with the overall system. Make sure your software has backward compatibility, or update your sensors to the latest models to ensure complete data integrity.
Speaking of data integrity, this should be one of your top concerns. The sensors you’re working with will be subject to some potentially harsh environments. Make sure they’re robust enough to handle those situations, or you’ll have holes in your data coverage that will inhibit your ability to make informed decisions.
Finally, run a thorough proof-of-concept. Implementing IIoT without having an idea of which systems you need and want to optimize will certainly lead to lost time, effort and money.
Alas, IIoT doesn’t come with its share of hurdles that inhibit its widespread implementation.
One of the first things you have to be aware of is that this venture will cost you a pretty penny. IIoT comprises 76% of all IoT spending for the year 2021. That’s a lot of money being pumped into the system, meaning true, comprehensive IIoT is still reserved for the top dogs in the industry.
Of course, that doesn’t mean implementation on a smaller scale is out of the question. In this case, prudence is key, and that proof-of-concept we mentioned will be all the more vital when it comes to recouping your investment.
Another barrier to IIoT is the lack of skilled help. IoT requires a wide skill set, and since we’re still in the early days of the Industry 4.0 revolution, finding skilled help is going to take some effort and time.
Not only that, but if you’re a smaller business, you might not have the money to adequately compensate for that help, and it may end up getting snatched up by the bigger players.
Finally, and ultimately, there’s the concern of cybersecurity. Cloud has always been a security concern for industry experts, as that data is particularly lucrative and often a target for industrial espionage.
Having secured channels properly and encryption protocols is a must when implementing IIoT. Luckily, thanks to the rise of blockchain, this security concern is somewhat alleviated.
And with that, we’ll wrap up this article on IIoT, its benefits, and implementation hurdles. As you’ve seen, we’re in the middle of yet another industrial revolution. At times like these, prudence and foresight are essential to push your business forward, and IIoT is the tool that will enable that push.
Rick Seidl is a digital marketing specialist with a bachelor’s degree in Digital Media and Communications, based in Portland, Oregon. He carries a burning passion for digital marketing, social media, small business development, and establishing its presence in a digital world, and is currently quenching his thirst through writing about digital marketing and business strategies for Find Digital Agency.
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