Connecting devices throughout the production process yields data insights and automation benefits that boost efficiency,
productivity and safety.

THE SITUATION

The manufacturing industry faces many unique challenges, but the IoT promises to improve operations in a variety of ways. By connecting manufacturing floors, sensors and computing devices to enterprise networks, companies can realize numerous benefits. IoT deployments allow organizations to monitor operations processes remotely and automate functions for maximum efficiency. The data created and compiled by IoT deployments can provide fresh insights that will help to improve decision-making and business processes. 

The insights and automation capabilities that IoT delivers are nearly limitless. For example, by monitoring the condition of equipment, manufacturers can see when hardware is nearing failure and fix or replace it before it breaks down. This reduces downtime, while also allowing companies to extend the life of equipment until it is nearing failure, rather than maintaining an arbitrary replacement schedule. The greater data insights that IoT solutions offer also help companies improve the efficiency of how they use resources and deploy personnel. 

These are just a small sampling of the benefits IoT can deliver, but to achieve them, companies need a network infrastructure that can support increased data traffic. They also need the capability to process the flood of information, a task many manufacturers are handling in the cloud or at the network’s edge. These are the core components for realizing the value of the data by effectively analyzing it and gleaning insights that improve efficiency and productivity.

SugarCreek, a company that packages and delivers a variety of foods, expanded operations at its Cambridge City, Ind., facility and deployed IoT solutions to improve operations. The system allows machines to communicate with employees on the factory floor, and roughly 400 employees wear radio frequency identification (RFID) tags that help the company improve efficiency, security and emergency response.

For the project, SugarCreek deployed a variety of products from Cisco Systems. The company also installed a network of 260 cameras in the facility, tracking software and video analytics that link with whiteboard technology.

A major benefit of the initiative is increased collaboration among employees across numerous locations. The video cameras allow remote users and partners to watch operations and assist with maintenance from offsite locations. Cameras positioned over product flows assist with quality-control efforts. The company even outfitted hard hats with RFID tags, helping to generate workflow productivity data and locate workers in case of an emergency. 

How CDW Can Help Manufacturers Deploy IoT

CDW’s IoT and Digital Transformation Team helps manufacturers find and deploy the right technologies to meet their business objectives. Our experts have extensive experience in manufacturing. They understand the business and can use this expertise to solve problems unique to manufacturing. This team orchestrates the appropriate resources for your unique IoT deployment. Their experience and expertise can solve problems related to technology areas including networking, data center, security, cloud and mobility.

The level of labor utilization since SugarCreek deployed IoT systems, a significant increase from the previous
level of about 80 percent³

The percentage of manufacturers that expect to launch IoT applications by the end of 2017⁴