By Michael Rivera, PhD
The internet of things (IoT) is all the rave nowadays. Enterprises are leveraging IoT technologies to solve age-old industry problems, and manufacturers are not left behind.
Common industrial IoT applications include improving product quality, supply chain management, digital twins, and predictive maintenance.
But there are many more innovative applications of the internet of things for manufacturers, especially in the modern business world.
Here are revolutionary ways the manufacturing industry can harness the potential of IoT technologies to scale operations:
1. Intelligent Metering
IoT-enabled workplaces use resources more effectively and reduce wastage. For example, smart meters monitor the consumption of fuels, water, and electricity. They track how these resources are used and the work done during this time. This helps enterprises implement strategies for optimized resource consumption.
2. Smart Packaging
Another innovative industrial IoT application to look out for in 2023 and beyond is smart packaging. This allows users to interact with the package and find answers to their questions regarding the product or delivery.
By allowing customers to interact with the package, manufacturers will create new ways to collect more data. This will improve the business’s knowledge of its customers and help them find ways to satisfy them better.
3. Monitoring Production Flow
Production flow is one of the crucial processes in manufacturing. However, manual product flow management has become more challenging in recent years.
IoT can use sensors that provide real-time insights to support production flow monitoring.
These insights cover both monitoring particular machine parts and overall machine performance. Sensors can provide information about the production levels of specific machines. They can even initiate a service call, order new parts, or modify processes to prevent production delays.
4. Remote and Automated Quality Assurance
Monitoring for quality assurance can now be done remotely and automatically, thanks to the Industrial Internet of Things. This will directly impact productivity and efficiency in manufacturing plants.
IoT devices with real-time video connectivity improve artificial intelligence systems through automated visual inspection. This allows AI to identify defective products and remove them from the assembly line before they are shipped out.
5. Dynamic Response to Market Demand
The ability to meet market demands is influenced by various variables, including consumer expectations, population income, taste, preferences, etc.
Manufacturers must conduct continuous research to keep up with ever-changing market demands.
The internet of things constantly stores and retrieves information without much human intervention. As the data collected is largely accurate, IoT solutions can help understand customer behavior and market changes quicker.
This helps manufacturers respond adequately through product improvements or by creating complementary products.
Conclusion
Many manufacturers are already using IoT technologies to solve problems in the industry. However, there are many more innovative applications of IoT to come, and the time to harness this potential is now. Are you stumped? Thinaer helps the world’s leading enterprises to make seamless IoT-focused digital transformations at low costs. Contact us now to learn more for free.