What does IoT bring?
Lean manufacturing aims at truly efficient production. With the help of IoT This is achieved by enabling teams and tools to automatically collect data, share it and even interact with information from other data sources, as well as with other processes, opening the organisation's door to a new way of working.
By accessing and centralising data from equipment and processes, IoT technology is able to provide manufacturers:
- A new level of visibility.
- Access to real-time performance data.
- Instant knowledge of all global operations.
- Possibility to balance and optimise scheduling on the fly, during the production process, adapting to market variability.
Optimal manufacturing thanks to IoT
Far from being confined to monitoring performance, quality or equipment failure records, this new approach has the capacity to configure a optimal manufacturing scenario based on current demand. Operations can be successfully completed by introducing changes in production, processes or facilities to ensure optimal conditions for managing demand at any given time.
But that's not all, the advantages don't end there, because in addition to the typical production scenarios, intelligent equipment will be able to:
- Monitoring themselves and improving their own performanceThe machine is able to monitor its own status, such as energy usage, to avoid peak demand charges. Automated preventive maintenance is made possible as the machine knows and communicates its own status of required corrective actions, keeping it running at optimal productivity.
- Suppliers can better manage the delivery of parts in inventorywhich can be automatically replenished on the basis of real-time data.
- Automatically adjust equipment settings to minimise waste.
- Streamlining production processes. As more companies incorporate new IoT and analytics capabilities, they are transforming their manufacturing processes. Such as predictive maintenance enabled by predictive tools and machine learning, identifying and correcting potential problems before they occur.
- Improve after-sales service. This is another area where lean manufacturing increases its value thanks to IoT. Support is enhanced by new levels of product connectivity and information provided by sensors and devices. Manufacturers can effectively collect data from customers in use. And so improve service and support.
Benefits of the Internet of Things
The benefits of IoT for the lean manufacturing extend far beyond the processes within a single organisation. IoT can help to optimise the interaction between manufacturers, suppliers and other business partners, enhancing the information flow on materials, demand and product usage. At the same time, the internet of things in the field of lean manufacturing is the start of a renewed value proposition that only strengthens the bond with the customer and fosters customer brand loyalty.
Author: Óscar Ruiz ChicoteChief Operating Office (COO) in Elliot Cloud.
