Smart Manufacturing Is Getting Smarter with The Internet of Things

As we know, the future of manufacturing is improving rapidly and now, The Internet of Things (IoT) has digitized manufacturing for the better. Manufacturing is seeing another industrial revolution from the invention of the steam engine for manual work to using electronic systems and computer technologies for automated manufacturing.

Whether it’s manufacturing for clothing, plastic, electronics, or food, manufacturers in every industry are incorporating technology in their everyday production process. Learning the benefits of using supply chain software are more reasons to incorporate real-time data for smart manufacturing.

Early adopters of smart manufacturing include leading global manufacturers like Bosch, Cisco, FCA (Fiat Chrysler Automobiles), GE, General Mills, Harley-Davidson and Siemens.

The supply chain real-time orchestration will even be optimized by 50% in 5 years from now when most manufacturers will adopt the use of advanced technology.

Here are some interesting examples of technology being utilized by smart manufacturing companies.

Excel of Deutsche Post DHL Group

PHOTO: DEUTSCHE POST DHL GROUP

The supply-chain management business’s freight forwarding arm, Excel, has replaced its handheld scanners and paper job orders with wearable “smart-glass” devices. Wearable computers like Google Glass was never a big hit with consumers but DHL has adopted “vision picking” as a new tool for warehouses.

Excel utilizes Internet-connected eyewear to reduce the time needed to pick out an item and pack it for shipping. A new version of Google Glass is now made and being aimed towards the manufacturing industry.

General Electric

The future of Big Data is finally being seen in GE’s inventive way of measuring temperature, humidity, air pressure and other machine operating data in real time. With the use of 10,000+ sensors, the GE Durathon batter plants have just 250 hourly workers and 10,000 sensors reading information four times a second.

Cisco

Cisco’s “virtual” manufacturing execution system platform (VMES), provides a better way to manage its global network of outsourced production plants.

One of the benefits of the virtualized plant floor is the strengthened security and flexibility of using special software from a smartphone or other device to monitor production lines.

This virtual solution has allowed plant operators to provide consistent and real-time images and reduce the number of data centers from three to two.

Siemens

At Siemens’ electronics manufacturing plant in Amberg, Germany has machines and computers that handle 75% of the value chain independently. Now, only about 1,000 automation controllers are needed in the production line.

Parts being produced communicate with machines by means of a product code, which tells the machines their production requirements and which steps need to be taken next and all processes are optimized for IT control, resulting in a minimal failure rate. At Siemens, where most of the processes are automated, employees are needed for supervising production and technology assets, while handling unexpected incidents.

With the latest research in virtual manufacturing using the Internet of Thing, manufacturing companies will gradually see an increase in industrial digitization. Soon, the rate of production and shipping will be the fastest it has ever been and the MEP Supply Chain Optimization program will be able to partner with manufacturers who are considering a supply chain improvement plan.

Please Connect with our MEP Supply Chain experts for more details on how you can optimize your supply chain.