Leading factories are realizing that implementing IoT (Internet of Things) is the way forward to gather real-time data from the production floor. Nevertheless, integrating such innovation into your organization requires planning ahead and paying attention to the key factors described in this article.
Measure-Manage-Improve
If you can’t measure it, you can’t improve it. Do you know the exact amount of raw material in all storage areas and the shop floor? Do you know the status of all work orders? Do you have real-time visibility over assets’ location and availability of tools? The root cause of unsuccessful Industrial implementation of IoT is, in many cases, the lack of knowledge and measurements of critical metrics. Industry leaders are investing a lot in the collection of data to ensure key processes are tightly managed and eventually improved.
Create a Task Force
A task force, led by a project manager, will ensure that your Industrial IoT initiative moves forward at a quick pace. A task force can evaluate solution alternatives, define how new processes will fit your organization’s culture, pilot the technology and manage and track the project’s timeline and budget. Since IoT touches many aspects of the business, the task force should include professionals from manufacturing, supply chain, IT, engineering, process improvement and management.
Integrate IIot into your Environment
Implementing IoT involves integration with your existing systems such as ERP,CAD/PLM, and MES. Find a vendor that will help you map out the process flow and interface points defining the exact information that needs to be shared among systems. This integration means that you are not changing one system for another, but simply adding a new innovative technology to the existing systems you already use.
Use Professional Consultants
As with any complex project, it is highly advised to hire professional consultants specializing in IoT and manufacturing. Experienced professional services teams have the proficiency required for a successful deployment, taking care of the various stages starting from project definition, through integration, testing and finally successful launch.
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