INTERNET OF THINGS: IT TAKES TWO (OR MORE) TO TANGO

Sharing IoT information from factory floor to C-level 

Information does not enter the realm of knowledge management until it has been interpreted, shared, and acted on. Information derived from IoT systems is valuable to people at multiple levels and gets the greatest leverage when it reaches across these tiers. Telit is an IoT technology company that produces a suite of platforms—including the deviceWISE platform, deviceWISE Cloud, and deviceWISE Edge—to collect, store, and analyze data. A variety of modules provide connectivity from different carriers and regions for multiple verticals such as agriculture, healthcare, and public safety. The systems allow for remote monitoring and real-time visibility of data. 

Manufacturers in today’s competitive environment need to ensure that their machines are operating at full capacity, and that the information about productivity reaches every worker who needs it. “Our newly introduced deviceWISE field lets individuals access data from the shop floor using tablets or smartphones,” said Ricardo Buranello, head of the platforms business unit at Telit. 

This mobile interface also allows workers to input data. For example, they can select from a drop-down menu to indicate whether downtime was due to an equipment malfunction, a shortage of supplies, or a pause while an operator took a break. The information can be shared with other departments such as service, maintenance, and engineering. Once analyzed by the IoT platform, a holistic view of operational performance can be seen by upper management. 

Customers who begin using IoT platforms are often just beginning an evolutionary journey, according to Buranello. “They might start with an imaging system that inspects parts for quality assurance to eliminate those that do not meet the standard,” he commented, “but later they want to trace it back to the control machine to see where the problem originated. Edge logic can be used to automate this process.” 

Buranello agrees that companies are not looking for IoT but rather for ways to accomplish objectives such as reducing costs, ensuring compliance, and increasing the speed of production. For many organizations, IoT is an integral component of digital transformation.