Automation allows immediate access to data, which is essential to keep processes agile. Having access to real-time data also helps anticipate buyers’ needs and allows for less inventory on hand while minimising production failures.
Manufacturers already recognise the benefit of being connected:
improvements in visibility over overall operations in the factory, faster identification of errors and faults, and more knowledge 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, carried out by Zebra Technologies, half of technology manufacturers will join the development and production of wearables by 2022. The report, based on the opinions of 1,100 executives, analyses the trends that currently govern manufacturing work.
Technologies that connect assets, inventory, and machinery are essential pieces of the IIoT puzzle. Manufacturers are fully connecting their operations, including supply chains. The factory of the future needs full visibility of all the areas that make up the production floor to improve productivity and increase quality. This is precisely 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, making production processes more efficient and effective by digitising parts of their processes and tasks and increasing business intelligence.
As manufacturers worldwide look to implement IoT in their business processes, demand has driven a surge of new solutions in both the hardware and software industries.
Building complete and functional IoT projects can feel like solving a puzzle full of surprises if you are not familiar with all the components that need to be taken into account. While the IoT market offers a wide range of technologies, products and applications, all these options can be confusing when you need to design and develop a specific IoT project with specific requirements. Fortunately, all IoT projects share the same core building blocks.
Components
Not only is it important that these devices capture the amount of data your application requires (air temperature, power consumption, water flow, traffic density, etc.), they must also be integrated with the overall system architecture. When selecting devices, it is important to verify the required network protocols and ensure that the system platform can decode the message formats they send. Achieving reliable communication between the devices is vital to the IoT ecosystem; without sensors attached to the machines, they remain just that — machines, and not digitally connected devices.
On the other hand, device configuration is another important factor. Some devices provide configuration programmes, while others require internal programming to modify their behaviour. Finally, it is important to assess the use of the power source (batteries, solar panels, mains power, etc.), as this has a strong impact on the level of maintenance the system will require.
Integration
The new Odoo IoT Box allows communication from any sensor or device to the Odoo Software. You can coordinate operator and machine work instructions in your manufacturing process from a single interface. Devices can be connected via USB, serial ports, Wi‑Fi, Bluetooth, HDMI and more – just plug in the Odoo IoT Box and the Odoo software will detect them automatically. With this level of integration, you can manage everything from your software and operator instructions to triggering machine and quality controls. No more connectivity issues, quick fixes to your manufacturing software, or manual quality checks. Connected devices are fully integrated into your business flow, with no extra steps added to your process.
Architecture
The architecture sets out the structure of your IoT solution, covering both physical aspects (that is, things) and virtual aspects (such as communication protocols and services). Adopting a multi-tier architecture lets you first focus on understanding how the key components of the architecture work, before integrating 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 inclusion within the manufacturing industry, it has also led to more software and services opportunities.
With each new development, it is rapidly becoming clear that the IoT is starting to root itself in the fundamentals of manufacturing. This in turn creates a wealth of opportunities, from companies like Odoo that can offer advice and implement IoT systems and software, to those who focus on maintaining equipment for manufacturers.
IoT in Manufacturing
An Industry 4.0 or IoT model in manufacturing, as defined by current standards, is based on a concept known as the cyber-physical system.
This refers to 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 enables virtual monitoring, real-time analysis and cloud connectivity. A group of these devices forms an intelligent production line that can make changes without human intervention.
The level of automation in an IoT-enabled plant is significantly higher than what we have seen before. A key difference is that cloud computing capacity is now used to process large volumes of information efficiently, using algorithms that can generate far greater value for companies compared with what is currently available in tools such as ERPs (business software), CMMS (maintenance management software) or SCADA (monitoring and supervisory control).
Benefits of IoT in manufacturing.
Improves employee productivity.
Improves inventory maintenance efficiency
Higher quality control
Reduced downtime
Informed decision-making
Energy cost control
The IoT module in Odoo helps end users connect and manage multiple devices in Odoo. Odoo also automatically stores the activities performed once a device is integrated with IoT. After integration, you can assign different tasks to devices and connected production equipment and manage them within the IoT module. On top of all these benefits, the highly customisable nature of the IoT module allows end users to adapt the module to their needs.
Odoo updates this foundation daily with newly emerging technologies. The ever‑evolving nature of Odoo continually enhances the customer experience. This is achieved through the integration of innovative features within the ERP. IoT is highly useful in day‑to‑day operations, and from Odoo v12 onwards, it is possible to connect to and access multiple devices, both nearby and remote, using this technology directly from the Odoo ERP software. This is made possible with specialised IoT hardware. IoT field, a tool hub that serves as an intermediary between the core platform and the various devices, managing the flow of information between them.
Industry 4.0 and IoT are transforming the manufacturing sector, but the need to improve quality is what is driving innovation and sharpening competition. The shift is already underway, and manufacturers and suppliers are integrating solutions to gain full visibility across operations so as to improve quality, accelerate production and reduce costs. Key initiatives include installing more checkpoints during 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 maximise the potential of this smart factory capability.
End users looking for a solution, engineering firms designing IoT projects, and technology providers in the IoT ecosystem should be familiar with these core components, as every project will eventually require them. In some cases, it may be tempting to use closed solutions that deliver all these building blocks through proprietary technologies. However, such decisions typically compromise the long-term evolution and maintenance of the project.
It’s best to work with suppliers who can provide all components using open and standard technologies. Otherwise, you’ll have to spend time carefully piecing together the tech puzzle of your IoT projects. With Odoo’s integrated IoT and CAPTIVEA as your integrator, you can grow in step with Industry 4.0.
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