As technology rapidly evolves, it continues to find its place within commercial industries, such as manufacturing. One notable tech advancement within manufacturing includes the implementation of smart manufacturing, but what exactly is smart manufacturing and why is it important? Let’s dive into the 4 key questions companies want to know when it comes to smart manufacturing.
What is Smart Manufacturing?
Smart manufacturing is a broad category about the use of IIoT (Industrial Internet of Things). IIoT refers to interconnected sensors and instruments working with computers for industrial applications. This technology gives manufacturers visibility all in one place. Managers can see areas of inefficiency and potential issues before they occur. By eliminating the need for manual data entry, accuracy increases. Data is used to identify potential areas of improvement that can prevent downtime caused by shortages or breakdowns.
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What are the Benefits of Smart Manufacturing?
Smart manufacturing is making strides toward improving business processes and bolstering ROI while enabling manufacturing companies to stay ahead of the competition.
Boost Productivity
Increasing profits starts with decreasing Work In Process (WIP) delays. As part of smart manufacturing, asset tracking systems can help locate specific equipment and inventory within the manufacturing plant. RTLS solutions allow managers to stop placing unnecessary orders for missing items and continue production.
Better Efficiency
Along with enhanced productivity comes better efficiency. No matter what stage of manufacturing your product is in, the faster it moves through the process, the less money it costs to make. Asset tracking and smart technology increases efficiency by ensuring employees complete manufacturing processes in an orderly and timely manner. Wasted time costs your company money, and by visualizing historical views of items in production, it helps eliminate unnecessary tasks or stages that slow down progress.
Quality Control
Offering customers the highest quality product at the lowest price sets your business apart from the competition. Smart manufacturing technology leverages the power of data to provide greater transparency within manufacturing processes. Real-time data provided by AirFinder OnSite allows users to monitor specific information for an asset, such as equipment utilization. This improves the flow of production and reduces energy waste.
How Does Big Data Drive Smart Manufacturing?
Smart manufacturing is all based on information collected through Big Data. This is how companies can quickly analyze efficiency, productivity, and quality. The continuous stream of information allows manufacturers to make more informed decisions.
In Summary
Within the next few years, the implementation of smart manufacturing will be an industry expectation from customers, investors, and even employees. The potential to transform manufacturing is omnipresent, and investing in smart technology like asset tracking could be the solution your organization never knew it needed. Find out how Link Labs could benefit your business by booking a demo.
