By 2026, it is anticipated that IoT infrastructure in the industrial industry will total $400 billion. The growing interest may be linked to IoT’s ability to, among other things, enable remote production monitoring, improve data collecting, reduce manufacturing costs, and enable commodity customization. The purpose of this article is to explore these and additional IoT use cases in manufacturing.

1. Quality assurance

Increased product consistency is the goal of automating manufacturing using robots or equivalent technology. Utilizing thermal imaging to systematize quality control inspection is one technique to verify that is the case.

For instance, businesses may use heat sensors to observe where internal parts are located in relation to the reference item and confirm that the produced product meets the necessary requirements.

2. Fleet management

Buses and other cargo vehicles may have GPS trackers installed to collect data while on the go. Fleet management software may then use the data to determine, for example, how long it takes a truck to complete a route, allowing inventory and production managers to plan their employees’ workloads appropriately.

IoT enables proactive and efficient administration of transportation logistics, enabling the early detection of bottlenecks. Fleet management is one of the most significant IoT use cases in the whole manufacturing process, given the present supply chain difficulties.

3. Production monitored remotely

By integrating sensors into industrial machinery, it is possible to remotely monitor the pace of output in relation to inputs (raw materials), manpower, and time, among other factors. Following that, their study will provide useful information about the input-output ratio for optimization.

The fact that manufacturing is being remotely monitored is another advantage in itself. It has been essential for business continuity, especially during the pandemic, if activities could be carried out from anywhere as long as they were completed on time. For example, a production manager doesn’t need to be physically there to get a sense of the situation from his laptop anywhere around the globe.

4. A more secure workplace

Everyone engaged has the ability to work in a healthier atmosphere thanks to IoT devices and technology. HVAC sensors may be installed throughout the manufacturing facility. Air quality index (AQI) software examines the information air sensors have received to ensure the quality is consistent with the intended paradigm.

A firm that specializes in face recognition is FaceMe. When workers have not worn their masks correctly, the system may detect this and alert the appropriate party. This technique could help halt the spread of viruses among the workforce, especially as masks are a strong defense against the transmission of COVID-19.

Production managers might lessen the possibility of worker liabilities and safety-violation litigation in addition to satisfying their moral and legal commitments by providing a safe workplace for the employees.

5. Personalized upkeep

In addition to the others previously mentioned, vibration and humidity sensors may all continuously provide data that can be examined for preventive maintenance.

These sensors will notify staff if inspections or proactive maintenance are necessary, similar to the engine oil indication on autos. The sooner this maintenance is done, the less downtime the machinery will have, and thus, there will be less production interruption.

Several data-driven providers are available online for those who are interested in using predictive maintenance software for their company.

The convergence of all of the ideas above could lead to a more productive workforce. Automating time-consuming and repetitive operations allows the workforce to concentrate on more complex tasks.

Smart wearables like industrial smartwatches might also enable real-time data exchange between employees and equipment. For instance, the wristwatch would automatically warn maintenance employees in the event of an assembly line failure, and they will then alert the appropriate people for workload modifications.

Alternatively, the facility manager may immediately view the fleet management software information on the wristwatch to prepare to accept and store a fresh batch of products.