5 IoT Adoption Trends for Manufacturing Efficiency
The IoT (Internet of Things) has become an indispensable resource for many manufacturers today. While these technologies are still relatively new, they’ve become a standard for the manufacturing industry. As more facilities adopt them, new use cases and benefits emerge.
With IoT adoption among manufacturers reaching new heights, there are several new and growing trends on the horizon. These practices will make manufacturing a more efficient industry. Here’s a closer look at five of them.
1. M2M Communication
As manufacturers implement more IoT devices, they’ll enable machine-to-machine (M2M) communication. Different machines throughout a facility will be able to communicate with each other, turning automated lines into a single, cohesive unit. This communication will give automated systems flexibility, which has previously been a struggle for robots.
Traditional automation is excellent at repetitive tasks but has difficulty adapting to new or unforeseen circumstances. With M2M communication, a device early in a workflow could inform other machines down the line about errors or upcoming changes, helping them adapt. Fully autonomous manufacturing lines would become far more efficient as a result.
2. Supply Chain Transparency
Manufacturers have started using IoT devices in more areas than just the factory floor. Many are now turning to IoT sensors to improve transparency in the supply chain. Since these devices can provide real-time tracking and notifications, they let facilities anticipate and respond to any disruptions.
For example, IoT sensors could tell manufacturers when a traffic accident or inclement weather has slowed traffic, likely delaying a shipment. The facility can then adjust workflows to avoid pausing operations while waiting for the delayed delivery, maintaining efficiency.
Given that many manufacturers experienced widespread supply chain disruptions amid the COVID-19 pandemic, these use cases are likely to rise.
3. IoT-Based Safety
Many manufacturers have begun to use IoT devices to improve workplace safety, too. One of the most common examples of this trend is wearable proximity sensors. These devices beep when workers get too close to one another, which helps maintain safe distances amid COVID-19, and can prevent collisions after.
While the primary benefit of these systems is preserving worker health and wellness, this trend improves efficiency, too. Having fewer accidents translates into fewer instances where facilities have to pause production and fewer days away from work. The safer a workplace is, the more productive it is.
4. Picking Optimization
E-commerce is skyrocketing, which places more demand on manufacturers to produce and ship products faster. This rising demand, combined with an ongoing worker shortage, has led to rapid IoT adoption, especially in inventory. IoT sensors can help employees find the right materials or items to pick faster, improving efficiency.
Picking may seem like one process among many, but workers spend much of their time on it. Reducing the time this process takes through IoT-based organization has a considerable impact on productivity. As more facilities use IoT sensors to organize inventories and streamline picking, manufacturing becomes more efficient.
5. Buyer Behavior Tracking
One of the more noteworthy recent trends in manufacturing IoT adoption is tracking consumer behavior. IoT devices in retail stores can track shopper movement and behavior, revealing what they buy, how they consider products, and more. This information can help manufacturers make more informed decisions about the products they design.
For example, data from these devices can show that users aren’t buying a product and aren’t even picking it up to look at it. This tells manufacturers that demand is dropping for this item and that they can reduce production on it. Adjusting to changing demands like this helps manufacturers prevent losses and shortages and become more efficient.
IoT Adoption Is Reshaping Manufacturing
The IoT has already thoroughly disrupted manufacturing. These trends are just a sample of the ways that IoT devices are transforming facilities and improving efficiency. As adoption continues to rise, new use cases will emerge and bring new benefits.
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