Manufacturers ready for Internet of Things

Most manufacturers consider the Internet of Things (IoT) to be one of the most impactful technological initiatives in their industry, according to a survey carried out by Zebra Technologies.

The survey found that most of the respondents rely on the IoT to provide them operational and actionable data which enables them to enhance supply chains and mitigate loss and risk so they can improve operations and asset utilization as well as enhance customer service.

Below are some other key findings of the survey:

• 83% of surveyed manufacturers either already have IoT implementations in place or plan to deploy within a year.
• Wi-Fi, real-time locating systems (RTLS), security sensors, barcodes, GPS and mobile computers were cited as the most important technologies for enabling IoT solutions.
• Less than five per cent of respondents believe the manufacturing industry is not prepared to make the changes required to implement IoT solutions.
• Half of the surveyed manufacturers cited cost concerns as the largest barrier to adopting IoT solutions while 46% indicated privacy and security concerns along with integration challenges.

Speaking on the IoT, Jim Hilton, senior director, Global Manufacturing Principal, Zebra Technologies commented that manufacturing operations are running more efficiently due to the installation of smart machinery and sensors on connected factory floors driving less machine downtime, better asset utilisation and faster time to market.

“Our survey affirms that Industry 4.0 is well underway but more education and information sharing can be done to increase IoT adoption in the manufacturing space. Zebra Technologies is committed to bridging this gap by enabling a more intuitive manufacturing experience where processes, tools and staff are more deeply and smartly interconnected,” he said.