The Internet of Things will impact virtually all industries but none more so than manufacturing. In fact, IoT—with its potential to transform traditionally linear systems into dynamic and interconnected ones—may be the biggest driver of change in factories and other facilities.
On the other hand, according to the Bloor Research report, without 5G there will be significant network gaps to enabling Industry 4.0—not only in providing connectivity for the billions of IoT devices, but also in transferring and processing the huge volumes of data that will be generated. Asset tracking—the ability to easily locate and monitor key components of a production facility—is a key capability of IoT. On the horizon, companies would be able to automatically track parts as they move through the assembly process using smart sensors. Plant managers could gain a real-time view of production output by connecting tools used by operators with any machines used in production.
Emerging IoT systems supported by wireless technology could sense warning signs in equipment and send data to maintenance staff so they could proactively repair equipment—thus avoiding major delays and costs. In addition, manufacturers could realize benefits such as potentially safer plant environments and increased equipment lifetime.