Industrial Internet of Things vs. Smart Factory - Which Will Improve Manufacturing?
Manufacturing plants are constantly looking for ways to improve efficiency and reduce costs. The two technologies that have been widely discussed and compared in recent times are Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) and Smart Factory. Both these technologies have the potential to revolutionize the manufacturing industry. However, which one is better suited for a particular manufacturing process is still a topic of debate. In this blog post, we will compare the two technologies and help you decide which could be beneficial to your manufacturing plant.
What is Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT)?
The term "Internet of Things" (IoT) is no longer new to anyone in the tech world, especially when it comes to smart devices. The term "Industrial Internet of Things" (IIoT) applies to the utilization of IoT technologies within the environment of production, including data and information about the machinery, the operations around them, and the environment they operate in. This technology combines machine-to-machine (M2M) communication, data, and cloud computing to efficiently manage the various components that make up a plant's internal system, increasing productivity, reducing costs, and improving safety and security.
What is a Smart Factory?
The concept of a smart factory is closely related to the fourth industrial revolution (Industry 4.0) and is based on intelligent and flexible manufacturing systems. In a smart factory, various machines and systems are connected to enable communication among them for self-optimization and automation, remote monitoring, and analysis of real-time data from the production line. By integrating emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, and big data analytics, the smart factory aims to increase efficiency, reduce downtime, optimize the supply chain, and improve production quality.
Comparison between Industrial IoT and Smart Factory
Connectivity and Communication
The IIoT system connects individual assets, such as machines and sensors, with computing software and cloud infrastructure, enabling the exchange of information between machines and systems. On the other hand, Smart factories aim to connect machines, sensors, and systems not just for data transmission but also for communication that enables self-optimization and automation.
Data and Analytics
Both systems generate large amounts of data that need to be processed and analyzed quickly to provide valuable insights into the plant's operations. The IIoT system focuses on collecting and analyzing data from the manufacturing plant to improve efficiencies, reduce costs and increase safety. Smart factories take it a step further by not only analyzing the data but also facilitating self-optimization through learning and acting on that data.
Automation
The IIoT system focuses on machine-to-machine communication and can collect and provide data but does not necessarily lead to automation. Smart factory technology, on the other hand, aims for automation and self-optimization. By integrating machine learning and big data analytics, smart factories aim to create autonomous systems that can operate efficiently and safely without human intervention.
Implementation and cost
Implementation costs vary depending on the complexity and size of the manufacturing plant infrastructure. IIoT systems can be implemented for small or mid-sized manufacturing plant infrastructure but may require manual interaction. Implementing Smart factory technology is more labor-intensive and requires a complete overhaul of the manufacturing plant, demonstrated by the high cost of implementation.
Conclusion
It is important to note that both Industrial Internet of Things and Smart Factory are promising technologies for the manufacturing industry that enable large and small manufacturing plants to optimize their operations, increase efficiency, reduce costs, and improve safety. The choice of which technology to use depends on the manufacturing plant's infrastructure, future goals, and available resources. If a quick and less labor-intensive approach is a requirement, IIoT would be preferable. However, if the manufacturing plant can spare the costs and needs more automation and optimization, smart factories would be the way to go.