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WHAT IS IIOT
IIOT stands for Industrial Internet of Things.
It encompasses the use of machines, sensors and actuators that are interconnected in order to boost the efficiency of the manufacturing process.
IIOT effectively leverages the potentials of smart machines and real-time analytics in order to take advantage of data produced by regular machines.
The main philosophy behind IIOT is that machines that are in effective communication with each other are far more effective and efficient at analyzing data in real-time and are also better at communicating information that is crucial for critical business decisions faster and more accurately.
IIOT IMPLEMENTATION
Advances in technology mean that using the Industrial Internet of Things has become more and more cost-effective, with new methods and avenues opening up.
Companies must formulate a proper strategy that deals with the integration of new system data and old system data environments.
The Industrial Internet of Things can unite people and systems on the manufacturing line floor with those at management and top-level decision-making.
Ensuring successful deployment of the Industrial Internet of Things means embracing new design infrastructures and introducing a framework that supports collaborative work processes.
This article however, is designed to give you simply worded steps that can be universally applied to achieve successful implementation.
STEPS TO IIOT IMPLEMENTATION
Given below are the go-to steps to successful implementation of the Industrial Internet of Things.
- Assess the absolute basics:
A thorough look at the assets, data collection and analytics will give you a good birds eye view of the task ahead of you.
It will also make predicting and detecting issues and discovering new opportunities easier as continue towards the path of IIOT integration.
- Embracing a culture of experimentation:
The IIOT is a novel and new concept whose results and prowess are visible only in theory, they are practically unproven.
For your factory to benefit from the IIOT, you and your employees must be both willing and able to implement new technology fast.
A culture of experimentation and initiative is crucial. Recognition of individual employees who display exemplary initiative in pitching new ideas or spending time in experimentation is a positive step in creating such a culture.
- Identifying the aspects of production that require the most attention:
The ability to focus attention on specific types or areas of problems is a huge advantage of the Industrial Internet of Things.
Sharing productivity numbers and related financial details with your team goes without saying.
Analyses of weaknesses from the related data will reveal their exact nature and then you may ask your team members to submit ideas how to fill the gaps.
- Consolidating data:
Centralize data spread out in the multiple disparate systems to connect them together.
Apply higher level analytics and leverage the expertise to secure all the data into a safely kept, easy digestible repertoire that is readily accessible for you and your employees.
- Making alliances with experts:
You should stay informed and updated about new ideas, technologies and tools and engage in collaborations with third-party experts who understand intricately industrial automation, data processing and control-related issue.
The opinions of experts can often prove to be critically important as you go further ahead.
- Getting proper trainers:
Training services exist to ease the implementation of the Industrial Internet of Things.
Beneficial as their services may be, it would also be better if you enlisted workers who have inevitably worked with some of the technology you will experiment with.
Having in-house trainers mellowing out the training process allows the culture of experimentation to be built up further while also accelerating the adoption of new gear.
- Redefine teamwork:
The new controls and automation tools brought about by the Industrial Internet of Things constitute certain changes to the manner in which your employees work; the coordination and teamwork between them.
Look towards defining how groups and teams can work together and how to collaborate effectively to improve the securing of the advantages of IIOT throughout the organization.
Examples of the aspects that may be in consideration are data involved in operations, maintenance, system reliability, and supply chain management.
- Developing a curriculum:
Routine and documentation are universally agreed to be at the crux of the success of any enterprise.
Training sessions store knowledge that may turn out to be very valuable later on, whether recorded in a manual or in a short video.
As stated before, the stored knowledge of experts can be leveraged in order to bring new technology to the manufacturing floor faster and more efficiently.
- Recognizing and rewarding success:
This ties into all the previous points. If your employees associate rewards and recognition with the Industrial Internet of Things, they are far more likely to actively work towards the goal of implementing IIOT and cooperating with you to that end.
A formal recognition program can also help your managers identify the stars. Keep in mind that appreciated workers will always perform better than their unrecognized peers.
More and more hardware devices continue to go online. This opens up more opportunities for engineers to assist with the integration and efficient use of automation across industries.
Innovation does not come naturally for most of us and entrepreneurs and factory management teams are no different.
It is still possible to create an edge to get the upper hand against your competitors through employing the processes and the little things that compound.
Your final task is to convince the benefit of the Industrial Internet of Things to your company’s management.
Work with your employees to identify the improvements resulting from your system, calculate the financial benefits of these improvements and share the information with those who are important.
Syncoria is a digital transformation solution provider based in Canada, and an official Odoo Ready partner.