You may have heard this term before. Your company may even use it. But what exactly is the “industrial internet of things” (IIOT)? Plainly put, the IIOT is a series of interconnected machines, appliances and other tech that are capable of communicating with each other to foster better analytics, efficiency and productivity.

But what are the practical applications of the IIOT on the machine shop floor? In short, the IIOT can lead to a number of new business and marketing opportunities that may not be possible otherwise. It’s all about integrating your various manufacturing machines that are probably already equipped with any number of networking, identification or other communication abilities. Basically,the IIOT helps your shop run better.

Benefits of the IIOT

As mentioned above, the industrial internet of things is all about streamlining processes by getting machines to talk to one another. Often referred to as machine-to-machine communication, it allows for less operational oversight and fewer human interventions. Machines can learn from each other but also communicate data and processes. It’s the next frontier in manufacturing automation.

This significantly cuts down on the potential for human error and  labor. As with other automations, such as AI or robotic implementations, IIOT seeks to bolster shop productivity by working alongside human beings. In other words, it cuts down on troubleshooting and programming, and allows employees to focus on the task at hand. It also decreases the need for exploratory maintenance, potentially leading to a safer workplace.

Unsurprisingly, relying on the IIOT proves to be much more cost effective. Because of the increased productivity, you can redirect resources to other parts of your operation. Ergo, the machine-to-machine communication not only makes your equipment more efficient, but the entire shop.

The Future of the IIOT

Manufacturing is currently the biggest investor in the IIOT. This is only expected to increase in the future, in large part to the way the IIOT has evolved. There are certainly all of the operational benefits listed above, but the IIOT is going beyond that. Its potential is not only in streamlining current production, but innovating new methods.

This is happening in tandem with other forms of digital manufacturing trends. The IIOT is needs to be adopted by companies as a business model. While these possibilities are not fully hashed out, many companies expect big things.

Rely on Custom Tool for the Future of Manufacturing

With so many innovations coming on so rapidly, the manufacturing industry is poised for a significant change. What doesn’t change is the need for reliable equipment that can actually get the job done. Request a quote today.