Manufacturing generates more data than any other
industry. New levels of connectivity,
advanced computing, smarter sensors and devices, and improved data access and
storage are increasing the breadth, volume, and resolution of available data. If
you listen to the big data hype, the assumption is that business value can be
derived if data can be harnessed. In the future, manufacturing companies will
gather more data -- but will they use it effectively?
SMART
MANUFACTURING GOALS
The overall
goal of smart manufacturing is to rapidly create applications that enable
collaboration between all people, systems, and assets across a value
chain—applications and architecture that build a new smart manufacturing
software platform for the future.
Manufacturing enterprises know that access to data
is important for improving operational performance. Performance improves when
contextual information is provided at the right time to the right role to
enable decision making.
And, new technologies are making more data
available every day. Some manufacturers are applying big data and analytics
technologies in the hope that intelligence mined from this data will enable
them to reach new levels of operational performance.
APPLICATIONS
ARE KEY TO SMART MANUFACTURING
But success is not merely about data acquisition
and providing visibility to more detailed and diverse data. In fact, it is not just about data. It is about rapid creation and delivery of
rich interactive applications.
Examples include:
- Applications that provide just the right amount of the right information to the right role at the right time to allow them to make the right decision and take immediate action.
- Applications that communicate between systems driving workflows and autonomous action.
- Applications that prevent and predict issues by applying artificial intelligence and machine learning technology.
In other words, it is not just pumping out big
data, it is about applications using and providing “right data”.
Smart Manufacturing applications are essential for
extracting value from data. Smart Manufacturing applications are role based and
real-time, and they address specific use cases aligned with unique business
challenges. The applications provide proactive notifications to enable rapid
resolution of issues. They are deployed to diverse form factors ranging from
wearables to mobile devices to industrial touch screen PCs.
The applications may merge the physical and digital
worlds using augmented reality. The right applications are agile, and they quickly
and easily change with the business. Smart Manufacturing requires the right
applications. But there are obstacles to delivering smart manufacturing
applications.
HURDLES WITH
TODAY’S IT
1. Data contextualization: Enterprises want to make intelligent decisions from data. But, an enterprise typically has many diverse software systems so techniques for obtaining data from these systems vary. It can also be difficult to combine business system data with manufacturing process data, yet data contextualization is essential to make intelligent decisions.
2. Underfunded and overwhelmed IT: Internal Information Technology (IT) organizations are often underfunded and overwhelmed. They do not have the capacity to deliver the applications needed and in the future there will be a demand for more applications and application management. Optimally, application composition should be democratized so that it can enable business users to make smart decisions.
3. Change and Change Management: Today, change is the norm. So applications must be agile because the business strategy, products, customer demands, and IT systems are constantly changing. These challenges will be compounded in the future because advancements in technology will drive a massive increase in the amount of available data resulting in demands for more applications.
4. Legacy software: Even if the applications are built, conventional software is not sufficient to meet the scale and diversity of applications required. Most manufacturing personnel are often given access to read-only dashboards providing a rearview mirror perspective on performance and offering no means of issue resolution or avoidance.
Also, there are issues within the two approaches typically applied to applications: Information Technologies (IT) and Operations Technology (OT).
- IT: Business systems that are IT-oriented cannot manage high speed process data.
- OT: Manufacturing level OT systems are appropriately process oriented but are not adept at contextual reporting
Applications supporting manufacturing must span these approaches (IT and OT). Continuous improvement inherently necessitates agile applications. But, legacy systems are often difficult to extend and support. They cannot be quickly adapted to align with evolving needs.
5. Disparate systems: Finally, existing interfaces between disparate systems can be problematic. Current approaches center on systems of record and on moving data between systems. As the volume of data increases this approach becomes more complex and less practical.
A BETTER WAY
A new approach is needed to reach the goal of smart
manufacturing. Luckily, solutions can be
built without replacing legacy systems. In fact, we can use the same modern
software technologies we use in our personal lives to build new composite,
role-based applications that can span legacy systems and new sources of data.
Modern software technologies include cloud, mobile, big data, social, and
advanced analytics technologies which are robust and proven.
For more
information about a new approach check out the paper “Smart
Manufacturing – The Landscape Explained” in the MESA Resource Library.
About the Author
Brad Williams, PTC - ThingWorx
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