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Manufacturing Technology

In interview, IoT, manufacturing, Q&A, technology by Alicia CheungLeave a Comment

Q&A with Contec In March 2019, Contec joined over 250 industry peers to exchange ideas around the impact of market dynamics and new technologies for current and future manufacturing, operations and supply chain leaders. Ryan Legg, VP of Industrial Solutions at Contec Americas, presented on the Strategy. His discussion focused on effective data that can enhance productivity coming from legacy technology; connecting legacy systems to Industry 4.0 deployments; and examples of legacy system connectivity. Ahead of the American Manufacturing Summit 2019, we spoke with Ryan to discuss technology in the manufacturing industry. In this Q&A, we examine Contec’s solutions; how manufacturers can leverage IoT to reduce cost, enhance efficiency and increase bottom line; and what the manufacturing landscape will look like in 5-10 years. Here is an excerpt from the Q&A we did with Ryan Legg: “How can manufacturers leverage IoT to reduce cost, enhance efficiency and increase bottom line? IoT can mean many things to different people. While we use the term IoT – which technically translates to Internet of Things – the concept is really about connectivity and visibility, whether you have a system that is truly connected to the Internet or an on-prem system. Value can be realized with both approaches. Collecting and analyzing data allows an organization to gain visibility where they did not have it before. A manufacturer may discover previously unknown bottlenecks in their process or that throughput is slowing on one particular shift. They …

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The Medical Internet of Things (MIoT)

In Internet of Things, IoT, medical device, medtech, wearables by Alicia CheungLeave a Comment

The Internet of Things (IoT) has emerged as something of a phenomenon in the last few years. The concept has become so popular that its impact is being felt across many industries. The healthcare industry is no exception. It is playing a leading role in this transformative process. Five years ago, the medical connectivity market was largely insignificant but has caught up rapidly. The market is expected to grow an astounding CAGR of 38% until 2020 by adopting the capabilities of the IoT. This intense growth is due to the increasing connectivity of medical devices and personal health tracking devices on the market, leading to an explosion in healthcare big data. Medical equipment, personal health and fitness trackers collect terabytes of data each day, most of which goes unutilized. In the future, the application of advanced analytics to healthcare ‘big data’ will have far-reaching implications on the industry overall, with the global healthcare analytics market expected to reach $20.8 billion by 2020.

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Your Assets Are Talking; Are You Listening?

In Internet of Things, IoT, medical device, technology by Alicia CheungLeave a Comment

The data analytics revolution has the potential to transform the way companies organize, operate, develop talent, create value, and service their customers. The momentum is building in many companies, but only a few are reaping major rewards from their data. Companies are doing a great job connecting assets, equipment, and devices, as well as gathering all that information into distributed databases. However, the challenge lies in finding ways to listen to what the equipment is telling us and responding in useful, actionable, and intelligent ways that improve business operations and reduce costs. Effective listening enables companies to move away from reactive maintenance activities and move towards predictive maintenance activities. True success will come from breaking down the walls of silence between employees and the assets they are managing. Unfortunately, many asset management solutions gather and report data with little thought on how to support the change from reactive maintenance to predictive maintenance.

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Fog Computing and Industrial IoT

In Digital Transformation, Internet of Things, Plant Optimization, Smart Factory by Cressida MurrayLeave a Comment

The Internet of Things (IoT) promises to enable many new business models. In industrial markets, the concepts of IoT, or Industrial IoT (IIoT), are already gaining traction. At the simplest level, for example, IIoT provides the ability to more closely monitor a production line in near real time, or manage buildings and their associated plants more efficiently. IIoT also offers the ability to radically change your whole business approach. While it is easy to grasp the basic concepts behind any IIoT implementation, if you dig a little deeper there are a significant number of decisions to make in the way it will operate. For example, a cloud platform might well be able to establish trend lines on how often a motor is switched on/off to activate a conveyor belt, but does it need to rely on the cloud platform to tell it when to turn on or off? 

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4 Essential Ingredients that Go Into Successful IoT Asset Tracking and Workflow Optimization Solutions

In automation, Internet of Things, supply chain by GenerisLeave a Comment

Do any of the following statements describe your situation? I don’t have a way to efficiently orchestrate our complex workflows of materials, tools, and people I can’t track the location or condition of my assets, or prevent them from getting lost or stolen I have no idea how to leverage our partner relationships and tie into their inventory systems I don’t have a good way of keeping my operational costs in check Many enterprises have implemented IoT solutions simply for technology’s sake and, after the novelty wore off, operators were left with yet one more system to learn, maintain, and pay off. Many of these solutions added unnecessary operational complexity that forced enterprises to shift focus from their core competencies. Choose an IoT tracking and workflow optimization solution that incorporates the following 4 essential ingredients: Robust and battle-tested tech; True cross-boundary asset and workflow management; Industry-centricity engineered into the solution; A goal-driven approach. Read more, via Cloudleaf: http://bit.ly/2p8xDDi

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Top 3 Ways IIoT Enables Business Outcomes in Manufacturing

In automation, Digital Transformation, facilities, Industry 4.0, Internet of Things, manufacturing, Plant Optimization by Cressida MurrayLeave a Comment

According to IoT solutions company relayr, the manufacturing industry, as a whole, is the least digitally advanced industry today. It is also the industry with the most to gain from the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT). With shrinking margins and increasing pressure to deliver better, faster, and cheaper, manufacturers are looking for ways to improve efficiencies, reduce costs, and open up new revenue streams, none of which can be accomplished without embracing the IIoT. The key areas in which the IIoT is poised to help manufacturers achieve their target business outcomes are: Asset Services – the continual monitoring and analysis of production line and/or supply chain data points that are most influential to a manufacturing enterprise. This data can be used to trigger automated responses in the machines, alert employees, track production and inventory in real time, and even enable custom product manufacturing Predictive Maintenance – the ability to conduct “just in time” maintenance, drastically reducing costs related to unplanned downtime as well as unnecessary preventative maintenance visits for healthy equipment. Through advanced analytics and anomaly detection, predictive maintenance capabilities only grow smarter over time through AI capabilities, to continually refine and improve manufacturers’ maintenance performance. Device Management – the functionality delivered by the ability to connect, retrieve data, and take action at the device (equipment) level. This interoperability is only achievable through a solid foundation of an IIoT middleware platform, connected hardware, and a solid device management software component. …

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IoT Enables Predictive Maintenance

In automation, Digital Transformation, facility, Industry 4.0, Internet of Things, IoT, manufacturing by Cressida MurrayLeave a Comment

Over the past ten years or so there have been many smart manufacturing initiatives that have promoted the need for production facilities to become much more efficient and effective through the use of technology. The concept of the connected factory, achieved through the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), is being implemented, which is significantly driving up operational effectiveness, resource utilization and a digital visibility of production and process metrics never before thought possible. 

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Demand Driven MRP

In manufacturing by Harshini SrikanthanLeave a Comment

Demand Driven MRP is recognized as an intuitive proven planning and execution method for today’s complex and volatile supply chains. While CAMELOT Management Consultants‘ services a variety of industries including Life Sciences, Pharmaceuticals, Chemicals, and Industrial Manufacturing, this thought paper focuses on how Consumer Packaged Goods companies specifically can transform their supply chain with DDMRP. Learn more: http://bit.ly/2Dlo0W8

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Averna’s Q&A Ebook: How the Internet of Things is Transforming the Medical Device Industry

In automation, Continuous Improvement, cost management, cost reduction, design, design engineering, emerging technology, healthcare technology, innovation, Internet of Things, IoT, manufacturing operations, medical device, medtech, technology, testing by Jennifer MiraraLeave a Comment

The ‘Internet of Things’ is transforming the medical world, allowing more patients to be looked after using real time data. Combining Wi-Fi and Bluetooth capabilities with current technology is allowing for a faster, more resourceful and satisfying experience for both patients and employees. With the Internet of Things(IoT) reinventing the technological landscape so rapidly, companies are struggling to keep up with the latest innovations. Companies must now test the wireless capabilities of all their medical devices to ensure their products feature seamless connectivity. With more tests being conducted and the rise of IoT, competing companies have introduced robots to automate processes in order to reduce costs. Robotic-driven production has become more economical, as robots can perform routine tasks without fatigue at a faster pace. So, how can OEMs in the medical world stay ahead of their competition with all this technological development? One way is to work with a company that excels at Design for Test (DFT) and design for manufacturing (DFM). Companies can also capture and analyze up-to-date test data. For more ways to stay ahead of the competition despite the constant changes in technology and for a deeper understanding of IoT and its impact on the medical device industry, read Averna’s Q&A Ebook here. Averna is a worldwide Test & Quality leader. Their talented team includes hundreds of engineers, system architects, developers, project managers and other professionals, as well as a network of partners such as National Instruments, Keysight Technologies …

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Q&A eBook with Bossard: How Will Industry 4.0 Impact Your Supply Chain?

In innovation, Internet of Things, logistics, manufacturer, manufacturing, manufacturing operations, marketing, Q&A, quality, system design, technology by GenerisLeave a Comment

Previously many of these technologies were emerging on their own, but not considered collectively. With a recent push toward an integrated approach, the Internet of Things, the focused effort is much more clear. While efforts are being made to allow technologies to be more interchangeable and data non-exclusive, much of the progress thus far has been disjointed…. This Q&A eBook with Bossard, published by the Generis Group, highlights Industry 4.0, the Internet of Things, full inventory transparency, and more! Bossard creates solutions that enable you to achieve higher productivity while helping you to surface your potential. Connect with Bossard at our American Supply Chain Summit taking place April 24-25th in Orlando, FL. Read the full eBook below:

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