Four Steps to Get Your First IIoT Projects Up and Running

PB-55-Omron-FourIIoTSteps-400.jpg

March 17, 2022

Data has always existed in the manufacturing environment – in the temperatures, pressures, sounds, and sppearance of machinery – but it hasn’t always been easy to access. Manufacturing professionals would spend years, if not decades, gaining the expertise that would help them understand the meaning of certain measurements and observations.

The Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) promises to revolutionize this learning process by turning such observations into quantitive trends that can be leveraged for decision-making. Consequently, many manufacturers are eager to figure out the best way to dip their toes into the water of IIoT.

In this post are some overarching strategies for making the most of this new way of using data.

Step 1: Find a way to gather real-time data that maintains its integrity.

Data is becoming much easier to gather and store. That said, it’s important to find a simple way to maintain the integrity of this data as you gather increasingly large amounts of it. Make sure you have a network that’s reliable enough to handle lots of data and sufficiently secure to protect your operations from hackers.

The challenges involved in gathering data securely often require more cooperation between the information technology (IT) and operational technology (OT) segments of a business than is usually present. Bringing IT and OT together is key for ensuring that real-time data is readily available, can be stored for long-term trend analysis, and isn’t vulnerable to cyberattacks.

Step 2: Analyze the data to understand your processes and identify trends.

In this stage, you need to employ analytics to crunch the data from the previous step and see if you can identify any trends. This can be on a moment-to-moment basis (are there any parts of my machines that are currently overheating?) or a long-term one (are there any seasonal trends in production or machine health that could be related to humidity or other factors?).

From a broader data analytics perspective, the algorithms you use might even identify trends you wouldn’t otherwise be able to see. In fact, this strategy has blossomed into a growing market in which third-party analytics companies help smaller manufacturers. In some cases, in-house marketing analytics teams are also taking on the responsibility for plant floor analytics.

Omron’s AI Controller is an excellent way to discover these hard-to-see trends. By applying machine learning and optimization at the edge level, this controller helps you turn tacit knowledge (such as the intuition of experienced operators) into explicit knowledge and extract the most value from your equipment, even without putting any data into the cloud.

Step 3: Determine areas that could be improved with automation.

This is the meat of the matter. You’re not just gathering data for the sake of having an “IIoT application” – you’re gathering it to make informed decisions about how to make your operations more productive. Although you may feel like it’s important to at least be using the latest smart manufacturing technologies, you should also have a well-defined purpose.

This is why it’s important not to rush with the previous stage of analyzing your processes. You should have a thorough understanding of what’s going on in your facility at the machine level before you start implementing projects to improve things. Otherwise, your efforts to introduce automation may have unintended consequences.

Step 4: Design and implement the automated solutions and analyze the results.

To truly make a case for continuing to use IIoT in your facility, it’s important to get a clear set of before-and-after comparisons. That way, you’ll be able to demonstrate that your solution has led to real cost savings, and you’ll find it easier to justify future projects involving IIoT.

Omron can help support your next IIoT initiative with the all-encompassing Sysmac platform that gives you a single point of access for all data and runs on the ultra-fast EtherCAT network. You’ll also have access to embedded SQL client technology, OPC UA, and function blocks for protocols like MQTT.

Source

Related Articles


Changing Scene

  • Eaton Canada Welcomes Dino Alimonti as New Vice President of Sales

    Eaton Canada Welcomes Dino Alimonti as New Vice President of Sales

    Dino Alimonti has been selected as Vice President, Sales, Eaton Canada, effective July 1, 2023. In his new role, Dino will be responsible for leading, developing and executing sales strategies across key targeted industry segments. He will manage and direct the growth activities of the Sales and Channel teams as well as provide business and operational leadership to the sales teams and associated support functions. Read More…

  • Roberta Nelson Shea from Universal Robots Receives Prestigious Robotics Award for Contribution to Robot Safety

    Roberta Nelson Shea from Universal Robots Receives Prestigious Robotics Award for Contribution to Robot Safety

    For the second time within five years, a key figure at Universal Robots (UR), the Danish manufacturer of collaborative robots (cobots), has been awarded the world’s most prestigious robotics prize, the Joseph F. Engelberger Robotics Award, often described as the Nobel Prize of robotics. Following in the footsteps of UR’s co-founder Esben Østergaard, who was given the Engelberger Award in 2018 in the Technology category, Roberta Nelson Shea, UR’s Global Technical Compliance Officer received the award for Applications at a ceremony last night at the Automate Show in Detroit. Read More…


Sponsored Content
The Easy Way to the Industrial IoT

The way to the Industrial IoT does not have to be complicated. Whether access to valuable data is required or new, data-driven services are to be generated, Weidmuller enables its customers to go from data to value the easy way. Weidmuller’s comprehensive and cutting-edge IIoT portfolio applies to greenfield and brownfield applications. Weidmuller offers components and solutions from data acquisition, data pre-processing, data communication and data analysis.

Visit Weidmuller’s Industrial IoT Portfolio.


For a Multiplied Value Unified

PB-62-Excelpro-MultipliedValue-400.jpg

During the last few years, the Excelpro Group has welcomed AIA Automation, Envitech Automation and Conrad Lavoie Electrical, all of which have become ‘Member of the Excelpro Group’.

It was with great excitement that in November of 2022, Excelpro announced that these three companies officially became Excelpro. This decision is part of a strategy to enhance the Excelpro Group’s brand in its market.

These companies already collaborate on various client projects. This merger brings together the complementary strengths of the employees and ensures a global synergy of the activities throughout the Group.

Read More


Service Wire Co. Announces New Titles for Key Executives

Bruce Kesler and Mark Gatewood have been given new titles and responsibilities for Service Wire Co.

Bruce Kesler has assumed the role of Senior Director – Business Development. Bruce will be responsible for Service Wire’s largest strategic accounts and our growing Strategic Accounts Team.

Mark Gatewood has been promoted to the role of Vice President – Sales & Marketing. In this role, Gatewood will lead the efforts of Service Wire Company’s entire sales and marketing organization in all market verticals.

Read More


Tri-Mach Announces the Purchase of an Additional 45,000 sq ft. Facility

Tri-Mach Elmira Facility

Recently, Tri-Mach Inc. was thrilled to announce the addition of a new 45,000 sq ft. facility. Located at 285 Union St., Elmira, ON, this facility expands Tri-Mach’s capabilities, allowing them to better serve the growing needs of their customers.

Positioning for growth, this additional facility will allow Tri-Mach to continue taking on large-scale projects, enhance product performance testing, and provide equipment storage for their customers. The building will also be the new home to their Skilled Trades Centre of Excellence.

Read More


JMP Parent Company, CONVERGIX Acquires AGR Automation, Expanding Global Reach

Convergix Automation Solutions has completed the acquisition of AGR Automation (“AGR”), a UK-based provider of custom, high-performance automation design and systems integration primarily to the life sciences industry.

Following Convergix’s acquisitions of JMP Solutions in August 2021 and Classic Design in February 2022, AGR marks the third investment in Crestview’s strategy to build Convergix into a diversified automation solutions provider targeting the global $500+ billion market, with a particular focus on the $70 billion global systems integration and connectivity segments. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Read More


Latest Articles

  • Emerson Helps Optimize Innovative Recycling Process That Increases Sustainability of Waste-to-Energy Industry

    Emerson Helps Optimize Innovative Recycling Process That Increases Sustainability of Waste-to-Energy Industry

    Emerson is helping the Swedish cleantech company HaloSep to optimize their unique process that turns hazardous incinerator flue gas residue from waste-to-energy plants into usable materials. Emerson’s control technology and software is being deployed at HaloSep’s plant for optimization, research and technology (PORT) in Gothenburg, Sweden, to manage an innovative chemical separation process that recovers valuable salt, metals and minerals from fly ash. Read More…

  • Efficient Power Supplies – An Investment in the Future

    Efficient Power Supplies – An Investment in the Future

    In the search for a suitable power supply, the costs play a major role, alongside the technical requirements. The focus is often on the initial purchase price, while other potential costs that may be incurred during the operation of the power supply are not taken into consideration. In this blog post, we demonstrate why the decision to purchase a high-quality power supply is a profitable investment for your company, by taking a close look at all the costs involved. Read More…