Automation enables immediate access to data, which is essential to keeping processes agile. Having access to real-time data also helps anticipate buyers’ needs and allows for less inventory on hand while minimizing production failures.
Manufacturers already recognize the benefits of being connected:
better visibility into overall factory operations, faster identification of errors and faults, and more insight for improved decision-making.
To meet growing customer demand, companies are turning to the Internet of Things (IoT). According to the 2017 Manufacturing Vision Study conducted by Zebra Technologies, half of technology manufacturers will be involved in the development and production of wearables by 2022. The report, based on the views of 1,100 executives, analyzes the trends currently shaping manufacturing operations.
Technologies that connect assets, inventory, and machinery are essential pieces of the IIoT puzzle. Manufacturers are moving toward fully connected operations, including their supply chains. The factory of the future needs complete visibility into every area that makes up the production floor to improve productivity and increase quality. This is exactly what IoT offers. The number of companies operating in IIoT or Industry 4.0 is expected to grow exponentially by 2022.
IoT and Integration
Cloud services, networks, sensors, gateway applications and data analytics software are all part of the IoT ecosystem. Every IoT application is built on an ecosystem of hardware, software and services that turn data into intelligence. No single technology or service provider can supply all the necessary building blocks. IoT is changing traditional ways of working and making production processes more efficient and effective by digitizing parts of these processes and tasks and increasing business intelligence.
Because of the strong demand from manufacturing companies around the world looking to implement IoT in their business processes, there has been a surge in new solutions in both the hardware and software industries.
Building complete, functional IoT projects can be a puzzle full of surprises if you don’t know all the components that need to be taken into account. While the IoT market offers a wide range of technologies, products and applications, all of these options can be confusing when you’re designing and developing a specific IoT project with specific needs. Fortunately, all IoT projects share the same building blocks.
Components
Not only is it important that these devices read the amount of data your application requires (air temperature, power consumption, water flow, traffic density, etc.), but they must also be integrated with the overall architectural system. When selecting devices, it is important that the required network protocols are verified and that the system platform can decode the message formats they send. Achieving communication between the devices is vital to the IoT ecosystem; otherwise, without the sensors to fit to the machines, they remain just that — machines, and not digitally connected devices.
On the other hand, device configuration is another important feature. Some devices provide configuration programs, while others require internal programming to modify their behaviour. Finally, it is important that you evaluate the use of the power source (batteries, solar panels, air conditioning, etc.), as they have a strong impact on the required maintenance of the system.
Integration
The new Odoo IoT Box allows communication from any sensor or device to the Odoo Software. You can orchestrate operator and machine work instructions in your manufacturing process, all in a single interface. The device can be connected through USB, serial ports, Wi‑Fi, Bluetooth, HDMI and more—just plug in the Odoo IoT Box and the Odoo software detects it automatically. With this level of integration, you can orchestrate everything, from your software to the operator’s instructions, to triggering machine and quality controls. No more connectivity issues, patches on your manufacturing software or manual quality controls. The use of connected devices is fully integrated into your business flow, since there are no extra steps added to your process.
Architecture
The architecture describes the structure of your IoT solution, including physical aspects (that is, things) and virtual aspects (such as communication protocols and services). Adopting a multi-tiered architecture allows you to focus on improving your understanding of how all the most important aspects of the architecture work before you integrate them into your IoT application. This modular approach helps you manage the complexity of IoT solutions.
Software & Services
Although the increased demand for IoT parts and hardware may be one of the most obvious advantages of its growing use within the manufacturing sector, it has also led to more opportunities in software and services.
With each new development, it is becoming increasingly clear that IoT is taking root in the fundamentals of manufacturing. This, in turn, creates a wealth of opportunities—for companies like Odoo that can provide advice and implement IoT systems and software, as well as for those who maintain equipment for manufacturers.
IoT in Manufacturing
An Industry 4.0 or IoT model, as applied to manufacturing and in line with established standards, is based on a concept known as the cyber-physical system.
This is a production-process station (robot, machine or tool) equipped with computing power that makes it an intelligent machine, and with the ability to communicate with other similar systems over a network. This gives you virtual monitoring, real-time analysis and cloud connectivity. A set of these devices forms an intelligent production line, capable of making changes without human intervention.
The level of automation in an IoT-enabled plant is higher than anything we have seen before. A key difference is that cloud computing capacity is now leveraged to process large volumes of information efficiently, using algorithms that can generate more value for companies than the ones currently available in tools such as ERPs (business software), CMMSs (maintenance management software) or SCADA systems (supervisory control and data acquisition).
Benefits of IoT in manufacturing.
Improves employee productivity.
Improves the efficiency of inventory maintenance
Increased quality control
Reduced downtime
Informed decision-making
Control over energy spending
The IoT module in Odoo helps end users connect and manage multiple devices in Odoo. Odoo also allows for the automatic recording of activities performed once a device is integrated through IoT. After integration, you can assign different tasks to devices and connected production equipment and manage them directly in the IoT module. On top of all these benefits, the highly customizable nature of the IoT module lets end users tailor the module to their needs.
Odoo updates this foundation every day with newly emerging technologies. The ever‑evolving nature of Odoo enhances the customer experience through the integration of innovative features within the ERP. IoT is extremely helpful in day‑to‑day operations and, starting with Odoo v12, it’s possible to connect to and access multiple devices, both near and remote, using this technology directly from the Odoo ERP software. This is made possible with the help of an IoT field, a hub for tools that serves as an intermediary between the core platform and the various devices, managing how information flows between them.
Industry 4.0 and IoT are transforming manufacturing, but the need to improve quality is what’s driving innovation and heightening competition. The shift is already underway, and manufacturers and suppliers are integrating solutions to gain end-to-end visibility so they can improve quality, accelerate production and reduce costs. Key initiatives include installing more checkpoints throughout production, enabling automated communication between suppliers and manufacturers, and using advanced technologies to train workers and support decision-making. These are some of the steps and strategies companies are adopting to unlock and capitalize on the full potential of this smart factory capability.
End users searching for a solution, engineering firms designing IoT projects, and technology providers across the IoT ecosystem all need a solid understanding of these core components, because every project will ultimately depend on them. In some cases, it may be tempting to use closed solutions that bundle all of these building blocks using proprietary technologies. However, that choice usually makes it harder to evolve and maintain the project over time.
It’s ideal to work with suppliers who can provide all components using open, standard technologies. Otherwise, you’ll need to spend time carefully putting together the tech puzzle of your IoT projects. With Odoo’s integrated IoT and CAPTIVEA as your integrator, you can grow alongside Industry 4.0.
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