The Internet of Things – IoT – considerably influences our lives, from intelligent freezers and home automation systems to smart vehicles and smart buildings. Soon, IoT will unquestionably continue to steal the spotlight in the tech industry.

Many companies aim to improve their internal business operations, automate workflows, reduce costs. In this scenario, they make enormous investments in IoT solutions, with the main spendings from manufacturing, transportation, and utility industries.

Nowadays, manufacturing remains the biggest investor in IoT solutions. As with smart device connections, equipment, and production phases, the manufacturers can get a reduced human intervention, effective machinery maintenance, employee safety, and effective process management. This is why IoT solutions are so important!

From reduced costs to improved maintenance to better safety, there are many IoT applications in the manufacturing industry.

This article dives into some of the most significant IoT use-cases for manufacturing.

Here are some of the main IoT applications in the manufacturing industry:

Real-time production monitoring

By gathering real-time data and linking the stages of production, the manufacturers will be able to easily monitor the status of the production line, as well as reducing waste and not-needed work in process inventory, or other manufacturing processes. At the same time, operational costs can be managed more effectively.

Moreover, by providing cross-channel visibility into inventories and transparency of communication, manufacturers can enhance the entire supply and efficiently track production flow. 

Product quality control

IoT solutions can enable manufacturers to accumulate vast amounts of product data, such as client preferences and behavioral patterns.

This way they will immediately identify and correct potential quality problems in the production.

They will have the ability to incorporate required changes and optimize performance indicators, thus achieving high-quality products that meet the needs and demands of the customers.

Remote equipment tracking and management

With IoT solutions, manufacturers will get the chance to handle equipment remotely, considering temperature limits, energy-saving indicators, and other situations to avoid problems, maintain healthy machinery, improve efficiency, and cut costs.

It is worth mentioning that industrial IoT and Blockchain work together here. The technology can enable smart systems to interact, monitor the machinery conditions, order repairs and replacements, and even execute financial transactions.

Condition-based maintenance alerts can be incorporated. Their role is to minimize system failures, improve overall efficiency, and reduce service costs as a result.

Supply chain management

By generating and making great insights into the data from different processes and business systems, and data from partners and clients, the manufacturers can have a full understanding of all the supply chain processes.

More than that, industrial IoT solutions can facilitate successful decision-making and issue analysis through real-time data and processes monitoring. Tracking the operations, the manufacturers will be able to automate the delivery of finished goods and improve scheduling.

Advanced planning

The gathering of real-time production and inventory data can enable manufacturers to optimize planning and scheduling processes, guarantee effective collaboration between company departments, and reduce loss. What’s also relevant, they get the capacity to build adjustable schedules that respond rapidly to changing conditions and problems that arise.

Potential anomalies detection & increased safety

The implementation of IoT solutions can help immediately identify any defects, potential disruptions, and damages, so the manufacturers can fix them on time. 

For instance, equipment monitoring – they will be able to detect the problems and order repairs or replacements if needed. And, of course, prevent quality issues.

One of the most important ways IoT technology can assist with safety in manufacturing is by maximizing the volume of data and reducing the time it takes to collect it. Manufacturers will be notified instantly of issues either current or pending, resulting in more streamlined operations.

Field service process optimization

IoT systems can be used efficiently to transfer operational data to stakeholders and field service workers for the development, monitoring, and optimization of remote business processes.

The smart communication between various devices and mobile apps has made the high-automated operation possible with lower costs.

Like in the other cases, IoT can be used here effectively to prevent damage and breakdown, minimize downtimes, and inform field workers about possible issues, equipment failures, and much more.

Cost reduction

More and more companies are realizing the potential to save money through the adoption of IoT.

While the cost of implementing the technology is significant, it will ultimately result in cost savings in the long run. IoT solutions can not only reduce capital costs but also save on labor costs.

By providing full control 24/7, IoT releases staff resources from long hours of manual checks. IoT offers companies the chance to plan and, as a result, serve consumers quicker and more efficiently.

The future

IoT technology is continuously improving manufacturing operations, with more applications and solutions being developed constantly. As we mentioned earlier, it is obvious that more and more businesses in the manufacturing industry are taking advantage of this powerful technology and, as a result, are increasing productivity and efficiency, as well as reducing costs.

Need help with the implementation of industrial IoT solutions? You just need to work with a great development team that will help you develop powerful solutions to meet your organization’s specific needs. Send us an email and let our team make your business more efficient.