When the original terminator met its end, it was killed by an industrial process. The symbolic element is that a machine could be controlled by the flick of a single switch. Industrial processes run based on simple commands. There are positives and minuses to this fact. Automated processes can deliver 1 million badly sewn left shoes in less time than it takes a worker to figure out that a spool has no thread.
The principles behind IIoT (industrial IoT) are well understood. Deliver at scale, drive efficiency and use real time data for operational controllability. Connected technologies and IoT sensors are the middlemen. Smart homes focus on personal convenience and comfort, smart cities span public infrastructure and services, IIoT is industrial and operational:
- 🟧Scale
- 🟧Simplification
- 🟧Automation
- 🟧Remote control
- 🟧Safety
We already know about sensors, process control and maintenance benefits, but what about user benefits? You can see the value of delivering significant real-time data to a central dashboard (scaling down the operations center to the level of a touchpad or mobile device), but is this practical or workable for complex processes?
- Exosite’s ExoSense: ExoSense is a no-code IIoT platform that enables organizations to monitor asset health and performance. It offers customizable dashboards and workflows, making it adaptable to various industrial applications without extensive programming efforts. techtarget.com
- Clouver by ProCom Automation: Clouver connects machines, sensors, and systems to provide real-time monitoring and analysis of production processes: procom-automation.com
What is interesting to note is that connected technologies can connect sites in different locations. It means global companies can develop an overview of different locations, in real time. Allied to technologies available within the visualization and cloud data management spheres, real agility can be leveraged by large operations.
Communication
You have seen on a personal level how networking and meeting tools have allowed global business to configure teams in different ways. The same basic structure applies to machines and production facilities.
The volume of data, the complexity of conversations, the ability to optimize between teams in various locations and the ability to effect change at a distance has meant that networking tools in the human to human level are here to stay. The same paradigm fits machine to machine interaction.
Scale
The principle of scale becomes important: Mass normally equates to inertia. Large operations can now leverage more of their resources, running processes and projects in parallel, triangulating in senior management for quick buy-in decisions. This maximizes time and operational synergies.
Note: This initial look at the topic of IIoT does not cover AI and machine learning elements of the mix because those are predicated on data flow, but they are considerations for any industry 4.0 connected solution.
