1. The Internet of Things (IoT)
2. Big Data
3. Cloud Computing
4. Industry 4.0
These four trends involve a large number of connected devices and enormous amounts of data. Furthermore, their implementation requires difficult decisions at many levels, such as how to store data and whether to access applications from a nearby computer or a server located elsewhere.
The good news is that the technologies behind all these buzzwords are already available. Is this just empty hype, a legitimate threat, or an opportunity? We will analyze each of these issues below, with a particular focus on what it takes to distinguish reality and react accordingly.
1. The Internet of Things (IoT): Connected Industrial Devices
. IoT refers to a large number of connected industrial devices. For example, there are automotive plants with 8,000 devices on a single network and consumer product factories with up to 12,000 devices.
The benefits of connecting these devices include the following:
• Everything can be managed from anywhere.
• Hardware complexity and costs are reduced with network technology.
• Control and information can be moved as needed.
• Everything can be easily expanded.
The IoT challenge:
The challenge is to learn the new technology and understand how to carefully design systems that outshine even the largest fieldbuses.
As the IoT concept continues to evolve, vendors and standards bodies will address the most challenging issues. The technology will evolve to accommodate this growth: more wireless products will be added, security will be enhanced, higher levels of network traffic will be managed, and more IP addresses will be created.
In short, we can continue as before, but with several more zeros in the number of devices on our networks.
The IoT opportunity.
However, ultimately, it will be the users who decide how the way businesses operate will change when virtually anything can be on any network.
2. Big Data: The Next Frontier of IT in Manufacturing.
Big data refers to the availability of vast amounts of information for use. Ten years ago, manufacturers recognized that they could and should store production data and, as a result, added storage space at an alarming rate.
The challenge of big data
Now that all this data is available, more than one manufacturer has commented: “We collect all the data, but we don’t actually use any of it, and we don’t know for sure what we should do with all of it.”
This trend continues today, but now with software that knows how to analyze and help utilize that data. Some of the best technologies come from web and search engine companies, such as Google and Amazon. These technologies can measure, interpret, and record every action users take. Providers will continue to expand and accelerate data transport and storage, and will continue to create software to help utilize the data.
The opportunity of big data:
Users will need to decide how to connect the "gold" of information they have at their disposal with their company's business challenges, in order to generate new opportunities to achieve greater efficiency, deeper knowledge, speed, and competitive advantage.
3. Cloud Computing.
Cloud computing refers to storing information and computing power in a location other than a nearby computer. Currently, most consider cloud computing an opportunity to gain more computing power and storage space while simultaneously reducing the overall cost of maintaining and managing IT equipment and software. It is also seen as offering new ways to collaborate.
While the computing aspect of cloud computing has a long way to go to be truly viable in the industrial space, storage is becoming increasingly popular as an easy way to back up and share data.
The Cloud Computing Challenge:
Just as with IoT and big data, providers will also have to address the technology-related issues. Users will need to weigh the benefits and risks of having critical data available and secure when it's stored elsewhere and managed by someone else.
In the industrial sector, the phrases “real-time” and “mission-critical” are defined differently than in IT, so our comfort level with what the cloud can do for us and how it can do it may vary considerably. In this case, caution is advised.
The opportunity of cloud computing:
However, once satisfactory results are achieved, it becomes possible to determine how a company could benefit from having virtually unlimited computing power and storage, and, over time, new avenues for collaboration.
4. Industry 4.0
Industry 4.0, or Manufacturing 4.0, which originated in Germany, refers to the strategic use of smart devices. The following can be considered as a frame of reference:
• In the 1990s, an electrical eye could store more than 30 data points when connected to DeviceNet.
• Around the same time, variable frequency drives (VFDs) and starter motors went from having just a few analog and digital signals related to their power to sharing hundreds of data points when connected.
The important takeaway here is that the technology underlying Industry 4.0 is not new.
The opportunity and challenge of Industry 4.0
The new opportunity offered by Industry 4.0 consists of using the large flow of information available in connected smart devices to revolutionize industrial processes.
The challenge is to think big and promote the necessary change within an organization to capitalize on the information available today in order to ensure future success.
How to take advantage of these four major trends
The following are three steps you can take to move forward:
• Step One: Move from ad hoc infrastructure to Industrial Ethernet infrastructure.
The first step is to ensure that your network is well-designed and can scale easily and reliably. Most users have moved away from fieldbuses and adopted Industrial Ethernet, finding Ethernet to be large, fast, and fairly forgiving. However, when a network has grown ad hoc and continues to operate, it may eventually be necessary to evolve toward a design that includes segmentation, security, and redundancy in the right places, along with easy network management and expansion.
• Second measure: Anticipate cost savings and use them to justify “great idea” projects. You don’t need to go to great lengths to achieve direct cost savings by using a well-designed industrial Ethernet infrastructure. Savings can be achieved quickly through:
o Fewer spare parts
o Less training
o Less support
However, don't forget to add the savings in indirect costs obtained from aspects such as the following:
Less paperwork
, More accurate work
, More timely response
, and Other business and process efficiencies.
Overall, cost savings, productivity improvements, and the ability to perform their work more quickly and efficiently should justify projects related to the four major trends.
• Third step: Generate “great ideas” that can radically improve the business.
To achieve this, don't limit yourself to thinking about cost savings, a department, or a job function. If your company had access to advanced intelligence, instantly, from anywhere in the world, with the ability to change what you do or how you do it, what would you do?
Take whatever you're considering now and exponentially multiply that thought. If you think you can't achieve this, find some people who are capable of doing it, take them out of their current roles, and instruct them to generate great ideas.
Here are some ideas that can help you get started…
How can current technology dramatically improve businesses?
While some of the technologies described may increase complexity and costs, they all have the potential to achieve the opposite when applied to real business challenges. Furthermore, the initial step of improving network infrastructure can be guaranteed to pay for itself and allow your company to capitalize on the four major trends.
Next, you'll need to generate excellent ideas and begin planning projects. Link investments to specific objectives that will translate into cost savings with a significant advantage and secure project approval.
Author: Brian Oulton
