The retail industry leverages IIoT for inventory management, enhancing customer experience through smart shelves, and optimizing the supply chain. The industry which benefits the most from IIoT implementation is the manufacturing sector.
Over the past years, the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) has been reshaping how industries operate, making processes more efficient, cost-effective, and adaptable.
Industrial automation is reshaping multiple sectors, including manufacturing, logistics,and many more. Exploring the application of IIoT across organizations can help business managers make fact-based decisions about implementation necessities.
What Is IIoT?
The IIoT refers to the extension and use of the Internet of Things (IoT) in industrial applications. With a strong focus on machine-to-machine communication, big data, and machine learning, IIoT enables industries to optimize operational efficiency. Meanwhile, it automates processes and reduces time and cost.
IIoT incorporates a variety of equipment and communication protocols, which create intelligent manufacturing environments.
Industrial Automation Tools
Tools involved in the industrial automation process include:
- PLC (Programmable Logic Controllers)
PLCs offer control, reliability, and robustness under demanding conditions. They execute commands based on the inputs received from sensors and make decisions to drive actuators, controlling the machinery in real time. - SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition)
SCADA systems provide a high-level overview of process control systems. They augment PLCs by collecting data in real-time from sensors across the plant floor. This capability allows operators to monitor, control, and optimize industrial processes from a central location. - HMI (Human-Machine Interfaces)
HMIs offer a user-friendly graphical interface to monitor and interact with the PLCs and SCADA systems. They are crucial for maintaining operational awareness and facilitating quick adjustments. - Sensors and Actuators
Sensors and actuators provide the necessary data about the operational environment and executing physical actions.
The introduction of IO-Link Wireless has revolutionized these components by enhancing their flexibility, connectivity, and ease of integration, paving the way for more scalable industrial systems.
Applications of IIoT in Different Industries
Industries that are already taking full advantage of IIoT to streamline their operations are:
Agriculture
Smart agriculture leverages IIoT for precision farming, including soil and crop monitoring, automated irrigation systems, and equipment tracking. It helps increase yield and efficiency while minimizing waste and environmental impact.
Automotive
The automotive industry uses IIoT for predictive maintenance of machinery, real-time quality control during manufacturing, and supply chain optimization. It’s also applicable in the development of autonomous vehicles.
Oil and Gas
In the oil and gas industry, IIoT technologies monitor pipeline integrity, optimize drilling operations, and enhance safety. They are doing it by predicting equipment failures before they occur.
Transportation and Logistics
IIoT improves logistics and fleet management through real-time tracking, optimizing routes, and monitoring vehicle health. It significantly reduces operational costs and improves delivery times.
Retail
The retail industry leverages IIoT for inventory management, enhancing customer experience through smart shelves, and optimizing the supply chain.
The industry which benefits the most from IIoT implementation is the manufacturing sector.
Industrial Automation in the Manufacturing Sector
There are several ways IIoT solutions are helping the manufacturing sector thrive.
- Robotic Assembly Lines
With industrial automation, robotic assembly lines increase production output, accuracy, and consistency while reducing labor costs and human error. - Quality Control
Automated quality control systems utilize advanced sensors and machine vision to detect defects and non-conformities. They help make sure that the product standards are consistently met without slowing down the production process. - Supply Chain Management
IIoT devices provide real-time visibility throughout the supply chain. They allow for more efficient inventory management, warehousing, and logistics. As a result, companies streamline their operations and cut costs. - Predictive Maintenance
Predictive maintenance, powered by IIoT, uses sensors and AI to predict equipment failure before it happens, minimizing downtime and extending the life of machinery.
Applications of IIoT: The Future
The future of IIoT lies in its potential to further integrate artificial intelligence and machine learning, deepening its impact across all sectors. With the help of IO-Link Wireless, factories across the globe are reaching new levels of industrial automation.
The continued evolution of wireless technologies and edge computing will enable more complex and distributed systems. It will offer unprecedented levels of efficiency, flexibility, and customization in industrial automation. Companies that adopt and adapt to these emerging technologies stand to gain a significant competitive advantage.
Reid is an experienced executive with 35+ years of global OEM and enterprise account sales, business unit, and business strategy leadership experience at Rockwell Automation, prior to joining CoreTigo. Reid has diverse industry experience in meeting customer’s needs in auto, tire, food, beverage, consumer goods, and heavy industries. His role as Global OEM Business Director, where he led strategy development and sales execution for the $600M manufacturing & assembly OEM segment, prepared him to lead CoreTigo’s efforts to help North America machine builders differentiate their offerings. In his last role at Rockwell Automation, Reid was Director of Connected Enterprise Consulting Partnerships and was focused on client needs to leverage IIoT to drive value within their operations.
Reid holds a Bachelor’s Degree (B.Sc) in Electrical Engineering and a Master’s Degree of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Michigan.
