The Internet of Things
In past articles, we have explored the topic of Industry 4.0 and some of the ways it is impacting manufacturing. One of the advances that has made this new revolution possible is the emergence of the Internet of Things (IoT). While the applications of this concept are vast and growing, the core idea is simple.
“The Internet of Things, or IoT, is a system of interrelated computing devices, mechanical and digital machines, objects, animals or people that are provided with unique identifiers and the ability to transfer data over a network without requiring human-to-human or human-to-computer interaction.” -IBM
The number of devices that are part of the IoT is growing exponentially. As of 2018, the number of IoT devices has reached an excess of 7 billion. This figure is all-the-more impressive when you consider that it does not include smart phones! The number represents a year-over-year growth of 31%, meaning the number of devices will likely reach 30 billion by the year 2020.
Impact on Industrial Sector
While the implications of this growth are broad and far-reaching, we will focus on what it means for the world of industrial production. Data is king, and that has never been truer than in the case of the IoT. Companies are integrating sensors, computers, cell phones, and tablets into their manufacturing processes more than ever before in an attempt to streamline the flow of data from production floor to information management systems. Regardless of the Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) or Materials Requirement Planning (MRP) software your operation uses, it can only be as accurate and effective as the information it receives.
Manual data entry is one of the most common practices for facilitating this flow of information. Unfortunately, there are a number of drawbacks to this system. Not only is it excessively expensive, but it is also largely unreliable. Manual data entry, otherwise known as “The Honor System,” creates numerous opportunities for inaccurate information to enter the system. This unreliable data, whether inadvertent or malicious, compromises the integrity of the database, and therefore the whole ERP or MRP.
Smart Vending
What is the best way for companies to record accurate, real-time operational data from the people and devices on their factory floor? The Answer is a Smart Vending Solution.
AutoCrib, Inc. is the de-facto leader in smart dispensing technology and has been providing internet-based software for many years. Now, we are excited to introduce Arcturus (an AutoCrib.net evolution), which is the most comprehensive application for inventory management and asset management for the industrial sector and beyond!
We read information provided by the employees with a simple yet sophisticated user interface. Employees can identify themselves with employee badges, biometrics, or other means, and then provide desired overhead data before being allowed to access inventory, assets, or any other identifiable stored item. This data can then be pulled through AutoCrib Web Services to the client’s ERP, MRP, or any other application. Web Services also allows seamless two-way data exchanges between software applications, helping avoid the occurrence of data becoming “siloed”.
Please contact AutoCrib by clicking below, or by visiting our website for more information as to how we can use IoT devices and advanced cloud software to help you today.
