5G technology and the Internet of Things (IoT) have been taking over the world. From gaming to business to manufacturing, these technologies are deemed essential. It may be a significant generational shift, but the benefits are superb. And you may have to follow the trend to keep up with these changes if you’re a modern-day manufacturer. By doing so, you can improve and benefit from the following:
1. Connected Screwdriver
One of the latest applications of the Internet of Things is cellular IoT in screwdrivers. High-precision screwdrivers require routine maintenance, which varies depending on the utilization rate. And for decades, many screwdrivers have only seen manual procedures from recording to maintenance.
Thanks to IoT technology, screwdrivers can now be connected with real-time motion sensors. The sensor is then connected to the company’s in-house cloud and systems, which act as a repository for the gathered data. As a result, connected screwdrivers pave the way for more tools to make intelligent analyses and replace manual data tracking with automated systems. With such, you can reduce manual work, and the digitized operating procedure can help you produce more.
Apart from that, you can strengthen your system by using 5G in manufacturing. With the high-speed, wireless connectivity, you could make the connected screwdrivers more efficient and productive. The better the connection is, the fewer the chances of lags in your system.
2. Monitored Supply Chains
Supply chain tracking with IoT simplifies what would otherwise be a work-intensive, fallible task. IoT technology makes your materials location-aware, enabling them to send information regarding their place. This allows it to be tracked more efficiently, decreasing downtime and shortages.
IoT sensors can also notify the respective personnel when supplies are running low. For AI monitoring, you’ll need faster speed and stronger bandwidth, which you can have by using 5G in your network. 5G also protects the system from being disrupted by naturally occurring disasters by reconnecting to different suppliers when needed.
You can keep manufacturing processes seamlessly with monitored supply chains because you won’t have to run out of raw materials. You know when to order the supplies, and since you know when the supplies you need will come, you can easily adjust the speed of your manufacturing process.
3. Gathering Data
Manufacturing is no simple activity—facilities vary, team members are spread out, and assets function independently. This paves the way for operating in silos, hindering management from gathering operational data to make more informed decisions. As a result, these tasks become repetitive.
Moreover, manufacturing systems deliver a substantial amount of data. If obtained and evaluated correctly, this data can impart transparency, allowing management to increase productivity and shift to smart manufacturing.
With the low latency and high bandwidth feature of 5G, companies can support the ever-increasing data flow. Such data ranges from real-time information about how equipment is being used to average equipment performance. This means you can now have access to a more comprehensive overview of the processes within facilities, making you create smarter decisions.
In addition, downtime due to frequent equipment failure will also be reduced, allowing for an overall more productive operation.
4. Predictive Maintenance
The holy grail of manufacturing — predictive maintenance — will only be possible by leveraging IoT. By constantly monitoring asset conditions and letting them self-monitor, facility management services can determine whether an asset is bound to fail. With such, you can have the chance to act before a failure occurs.
Moreover, assets that communicate in an interconnected system can inform other assets when they’re failing. This allows them to stop the process before failure extends to the entire system. Altogether, these predictive measures can increase asset performance and prolong the asset’s lifespan through optimized asset operation.
Practically, every asset, equipment, and system are generating data. Keeping track of this data instantaneously will alert you if something is out of order—or about to be—so you can address the problem in its infancy before it turns out to be an expensive repair or replacement.
Inevitably, assets and machinery will deteriorate over time, but historical data is taken into account with predictive analysis and machine learning techniques. This way, you can arrive at predictions as to when a specific asset requires, for instance, a refurbish or a significant overhaul. This also means that IoT gives way to improved building operating systems, averting failures and keeping you happy.
Conclusion
Instead of resisting the trends, modern-day manufacturers may do better if they learn and incorporate technological innovations in their systems. That way, you can have a more efficient process that can remove manual tasks, which take the most of your employees’ time. Instead, your people can focus more on other complicated roles for a more productive day.