When a supplier of aviation fuel was looking at the huge logistical challenge of fueling aircraft in international airports – moving oil from the refinery to the aircraft – from a different lens, they looked at what the latest in IT can do to help. A highly sophisticated system, as well as reliable communication up to the fueling vehicle, was the need of the hour. They went for a fuel handling system (FHS) that modeled and integrated all processes from the refinery to fueling. Visit online https://homecontrol.vn/ for more details. All fuel carrying vehicles were equipped with an onboard computer, touch screen, printer, Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) and measuring system. That’s not all. The FHS was then connected with the ERP system of airlines and the oil company, as well as flight display board systems of airports. The result – accuracy, efficiency and cost savings.
Welcome to Industry 4.0
We are witnessing, across the world, a whole new revolution in manufacturing and supply, which we have now come to call The Fourth Industrial Revolution or Industry 4.0. (We cannot get out of software lingo, do we?). The essence of this revolution is the use of communication and information advances to improve almost any activity on the planet. The primary drivers remain rooted in business – demand for greater variety, lower cost, and improved quality. The answer Industry found was in fully automated production cells and connected manufacturing or Smart Manufacturing.
According to a study by the Aberdeen Group, 74% of best-in-class organizations cite visibility into the performance of operations as the leading capability of Industry 4.0.
And what Industry 4.0 is doing is ushering in the combination of robotics, teleoperation, and cloud technologies to transform enterprise operations, industrial processes, and consumer services across verticals. The supporting technologies include service robots, ubiquitous connectivity and communication technology, building automation and management systems, sensor-equipped energy management system, cloud and edge enabled infrastructure, mobile device management, wearable networks, and intelligent software application. If that sounds like a lot, let us make it simple for you. Whether you are talking about a factory setting, office environment, or enterprise operation, IoT (or call it Industrial IOT) and supporting technologies can enable a smarter workplace.
The change drivers
International Data Corporation (IDC) in its research paper – Transforming Manufacturing with the Internet of Things – identified the following drivers which will influence why and how manufacturers invest in IoT.
Complex, dynamic value chains – Manufacturers participate in and manage complex, overlapping value chains, with frequent change, as they seek new opportunities around the globe.
Emerging market growth – Manufacturers continue to reshape supply chains and product strategies to support emerging market growth sourced from and manufactured in emerging regions and local markets.
Traceability, transparency, brand, and reputation – Manufacturers will use increased traceability and transparency to strengthen their ability to deliver product quality and protect their reputations.
Demanding customers – Manufacturers are compressing business cycles to meet customers’ increasing requirements for personalized products and higher levels of service.