How IoT can help manufacturing industries

Investments in IoTdevices in manufacturing industries have increased drastically inthe last couple of years. From production to delivery of end product, the entire manufacturing process can be monitored and automated using IoT technology. It is essential to understand the application of IoT in manufacturing industry and how it helps at various stages of manufacturing.

Maintenance and stock management

It is easier to maintain stock and inventories with the help of level sensors, barcode scanners, refill requirement generators, and many such other applications of IoT, Using specific engineering automation, itis possible to detect, collect and analyse the real time variations in pre-set parameters of a functional unit. This helps to reduce the wastage of resources, avoid malfunction and improve effectiveness of the equipment.

Another key featureIoT offers is predictive maintenance. Prediction of any changes in the manufacturing parameters is possible using sensors on connected devices. For example,IoT helps to predict the shelf life a machinery and when it needs to be upgraded. It also predicts if the production flow is about to break down, or when parameters like temperature or pressure is reaching the risk limit. At this stage, operators can be warned by an alarm or alerts.IoT effectively facilitates streamlined processes without hasslewhile ensuring asset and product quality maintenance on a periodic basis.

Quality control and safety

The interconnected devices pre-set/fedin accordance to a quality assurance checklist observesand reports quality issues in the ongoing production cycle. With the help of wearable gadgets and gears, it is easier keep a constant check and exercise quality control.

IoT can be deployed in manufacturing plant then in the warehouse and in the end at the customer site for equipment, product and labour safety .When machine is malfunctioning, or there are any deviations in process flow, sensors can identify the issue and send an alert to the respective team on their wearable and communication devices and the issue can be immediately resolved and further damage can be avoided.

IoT Technology can be used to ensure that the temperature and working conditions of specific components are handled correctly during and after manufacturing process, aligned with set parameters optimal for product safety.

Packaging and Transportation

Using IoT packaging sensors, manufacturers can get necessary information about how to use and maintain products received from different customers. Tracking sensors can sense the effect of weather and mode of transport on the product. These observations can be useful to further customize and improve packaging standards and conditions of the product during transit.

IoTtrackers and reporting devices can also render real-time location of products after dispatch which ensure successful delivery.

Saving energy, manpower and money

By setting specific limits on the connected devices, expenses on energy and materials can be brought down. One can protect machinery and assets from any harm indirectly ensuring lower chances of reactive expenses for repairs.

IoTfacilitatesintuitive production flow, monitors development cycles, manages inventory, ensures asset, labour and product safety, every moment. This is nearly impossible to achieve these facilities manually and huge amounts of wages need to be paid to avail them.

Thus, IoT helps to get maximum return on investment in manufacturing.With rapid deployment of IoT, digital transformation and industrial revolution is underway smoothly and the future is bright with better streamlined processes and control to be realized in the industry in various scenarios.