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to analyse their data to address problems faster and to drive process improvement .
By employing an IIoT strategy , manufacturers can collect , analyse and present real-time data and analytics in easy-to-understand and highly customisable formats to make informed decisions about everything from maintenance to manufacturing efficiency to optimising human interactions with machinery .
Mobile-enabled IIoT is further transforming manufacturing . Technicians can receive notifications for predictive maintenance or remotely evaluate machinery , product line managers can evaluate production line performance , salespeople can evaluate product availability for an order – all through a mobile dashboard .
Data is the imperative for manufacturing survival
Manufacturers must monitor and analyse their machine and process data in real time to :
• Improve overall productivity , efficiency and quality
• Increase data accuracy and integrity
• Eliminate unnecessary downtime by identifying production and maintenance issues ahead of time
• Enhance overall decision-making
• Respond quickly and profitably to changing demands
However , capturing and analysing high-value data isn ’ t as elementary as it seems considering the vast amount of data available in a manufacturing environment . Many manufacturers use the IIoT data today for equipment monitoring and prediction . For example , data analysis can help predict the optimal maintenance interval for assembly line equipment based on external factors such as hours of operation and even ambient temperature .
Where to begin with an IIoT strategy
Before looking for the latest IIoT technologies to add , there are a few questions that must be considered :
• What data is needed and how is it prioritised ?
• Which systems does the data come from ?
• What will this data help to accomplish ?
• How can this data be used to enable efficiency and innovation ?
• What data needs to be shared ?
• How can the necessary parties access this data ?
The answers to these questions will help provide the foundation for a plan to determine what technologies and systems will enable a data-driven environment .
Data sources are everywhere
In the world of the IIoT , data comes from many sources including third-party systems , equipment
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