What IIoT means for manufacturing

How the Internet of Things enhances efficiencies throughout the factory

IIoT is perhaps the biggest buzzword in factory automation today, and it is a key aspect of Industry 4.0. But the IIoT is more than just the way of the future: it already impacts the way factories operate today, and it will increasingly impact businesses in the future. It is therefore essential to understand the terms being used, recognise how IIoT technologies are already being implemented in manufacturing facilities and prepare your business for the future.

Terms defined: Industry 4.0, IoT, and IIoT

The term “Industry 4.0” broadly describes the current wave of technological innovation as an era in history characterised by interconnectivity enabled by the internet and wirelessly connected devices. By way of background, Industry 1.0 refers to the era of water and steam power and Industry 2.0, the era of electric power. Industry 4.0 follows closely on the heels of the digital era (Industry 3.0), and many manufacturing facilities operate using digital technologies. While digital technologies have enabled the collection of large amounts of valuable data, this data primarily exists in silos that are not easily accessible for analysis and actionable insights.

The technologies of Industry 4.0 take data collection to the next level by making data readily available and by automating the communication between industrial automation equipment and systems. This allows businesses to leverage data in more meaningful ways, including enabling predictive analysis for machines as well as process optimisation across the factory floor.

While Industry 4.0 refers to a period of advancements in technology, the Internet of Things (IoT) describes the technologies that connect objects — from consumer electronics to industrial components — to the internet. The Industrial Internet of Things (or IIoT) refers specifically to the impact of this innovation on industrial applications.

IoT/IIoT technologies together are said to create ‘smart’ networks. For example, the wireless technologies of a smart home connect homeowners to almost anything in the house — from their home security system to their refrigerator — and allow remote accessibility via smartphone. Similarly, a smart factory provides plant managers with visibility, analytics and remote access to wirelessly connected machines.

The key benefits of IIoT technologies for factory automation include:

• Visibility and remote access to the operational status of machine components (both historically and in real time), allowing plant managers to monitor and diagnose systems quickly as well as identify and resolve problems before the impact on machine availability and productivity compounds.
• Predictive analytics allowing for more accurate planning of machine maintenance, which can help reduce machine downtime, increase mean time between failure (MTBF) and reduce the costs of unnecessary preventive maintenance and spare parts inventory.
• Interconnectivity enabling seamless communication among machines, components and people, which increases efficiency by allowing for more autonomous machine performance and streamlined manual processes.
   

Overall, the increased visibility, analytics and interconnectivity afforded by the IIoT mean that these technologies are not just short-term investments or solutions to immediate problems; rather, they enable continuous improvement by providing companies with the capabilities necessary to solve new problems as they arise — compounding the value of the investment over time.

What does IIoT mean for factories?

IIoT technologies allow businesses to access and leverage factory-wide data in more meaningful ways compared to digital technologies, but what does that look like in practice? Following are three practical examples of how visibility, predictive analytics and interconnectivity are impacting factories today.

Visibility and remote access increase efficiency

In order to ensure efficient processes throughout the factory, machine operators must quickly and easily determine the status of machines. The greater the visibility, the easier it is to identify and resolve problems and keep operations running smoothly.

Traditional tower lights provide visibility wherever they can be physically seen. However, tower lights equipped with wireless communication capabilities take visibility to the next level by both displaying a visual indication of an event and transmitting wireless alerts. This helps ensure that operational problems are identified and addressed immediately, regardless of whether a machine operator is physically present to see the visual indicator.

For example, tower lights with wireless communication allow operators to remotely monitor machine performance without lengthy and expensive cable runs. The lights indicate machine status visually while updates are also transmitted over a secure wireless network to a remote device, triggering an action or prompting a response from an operator at a workstation away from the machine.

An additional benefit of wireless indicators is data logging for use in OEE (overall equipment effectiveness) calculations. Not only can operators respond to alerts quickly as they occur, but a history of alerts can also be stored and analysed offline. This historical data can be used to track machine uptime, production volume, rejected parts and other key metrics in order to make more informed decisions over time.

Predictive maintenance increases machine uptime and availability

In addition to real-time status monitoring, IIoT technologies can also be used to help avoid machine failures thanks to predictive maintenance. The traditional approach to machine maintenance is to follow a prescribed regimen of preventive maintenance.

This involves regularly replacing machine components based on the manufacturer’s suggested timeline rather than data from the actual machine. This means that you might be paying too much for unnecessary preventive maintenance plans and replacement parts; or you might experience unexpected downtime if something goes wrong between scheduled maintenance visits.

With predictive maintenance, much of the guesswork is removed because maintenance decisions can be made based on the historical and real-time data from the machine itself. For example, wireless vibration and temperature sensors can detect signs of misaligned, loose or worn parts on a machine. The wireless sensors then transmit that information to a wireless controller that makes data available immediately (via text or email alerts) and for long-term analysis.

By monitoring machine components in real time for increases in vibration and temperature, problems can be detected and resolved before they become too severe and cause additional damage or result in unplanned downtime. Over time, the historical data creates a valuable machine performance log that can be used to make more informed maintenance decisions down the line.

Interconnectivity streamlines factory communications

IIoT technologies are not just useful for optimising machines. In fact, wireless technologies enable seamless interaction among human workers as well, and can have a significant impact on the efficiency of manual production lines. For example, instead of requiring machine operators to walk over to the manager area for assistance with a technical issue, a wireless system utilising connected pushbuttons or switches and tower lights can be used to alert managers when assistance is needed on the line.

For example, a notification system might be set up so that an operator pushes a button or flips a switch to alert the manager or technician that they are needed on the production line. A tower light connected to the gateway’s outputs would then indicate which production line needs a manager’s attention, and colours could be assigned to indicate the need for a technician (red) or manager (yellow). Wireless pushbuttons equipped with LED status lights can also facilitate two-way communication by configuring the LED to change colour when the manager or technician indicates that they are on their way.

Using a wireless tower light notification system reduces the need for technicians and managers to constantly check each production line and for workers to leave their workstations when they need assistance. By utilising a wireless network of connected devices to streamline communications, managers, technicians and line workers are able to use their time more efficiently and productively.

Is your business IIoT-ready?

From keeping machines running smoothly to enabling seamless communication between machines, components and people, the benefits of IIoT technologies are tangible. However, it can be challenging knowing where to start and how to use these technologies to their fullest advantage.

Below are three questions to help manufacturers prepare for a move from digital to IIoT:

• What are the inefficiencies in your operations?
• What kind of data would help you overcome these inefficiencies?
• What communication processes need to be in place in order to utilise data in a meaningful way?
   

Answering these questions can help manufacturing facilities identify the best technologies to meet their immediate business needs and start taking advantage of the long-term benefits of IIoT.

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