2 min read
The Internet of Things (IIoT) Made Simple
The Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) is a concept that’s been around for over a decade, yet it’s still shrouded in mystery, complexity and “technobabble”.
Terms such as factory of the future, Industry 4.0 and digital transformation all imply that it entails radical change and huge upheaval, not to mention costly investment. But it needn’t be like that.
What is in the guide?
In the guide, you’ll discover a different approach to IIoT, one that offers practical, relevant and accessible information to move beyond what’s often considered a future vision and into implementation.
Extracting the data
IIoT technologies help to unlock the value of operating data and page 2 reveals where in your factory this data is located, a lot of which is currently untapped. And although IIoT is often confused with ‘big data’, in reality, it’s about extracting the right data to enable better decisions to be made, with a little data going a long way, as is evident in the case study on page 6.
The build vs buy debate
Of course, you can choose to build your own IIoT platform and page 8 reveals the
various steps and skills needed to do that. The steps are many, the skill sets broad and
deep, and the timeline considerable – all of which usually means high cost. However,
in the “Build vs Buy” comparison shown on page 14, a compelling solution is revealed
in the form of RS Industria. This cloud-based end-to-end IIoT platform offers simplicity,
flexibility, cost-effectiveness and rapid deployment.
Case studies
By way of example, we look at three companies that have implemented IIoT using
the RS Industria platform. These case studies on pages 6, 12 and 20 show how
practical day-to-day problems were solved and benefits gained.
Data, AI and ML
IIoT is not a technology on its own but rather a group of complementary digital
technologies used together. Terms like artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning
(ML) have been bandied about in recent years but still carry sci-fi connotations.
According to IBM’s definition, “At its simplest form, AI is a field that combines computer
science and robust datasets to enable problem-solving. A sub-field of AI, and one
which is frequently mentioned in conjunction with it, is machine learning, which is comprised of AI algorithms that seek to create expert systems which make predictions
or classifications based on input data.”
On page 18 we discuss how data, together with the use of AI and ML, is enabling predictive maintenance to come of age.
“At its simplest level, IIoT revolves around how machines interact
with each other and how we know what’s going on within those machines through data. It’s about extracting better data, not big data”Richard Jeffers, Founder & Managing Director, RS Industria
Cyber Security
Of course, the implementation of anything new brings with it a list of apprehensions
and concerns, and it’s highly likely that cyber security tops this list for IIoT. With an
abundance of data flowing between the factory and the cloud, companies want to feel
reassured that they’re not going to get hacked (page 22).
Balancing the needs of OT and IT
Other barriers to successful IIoT implementation are balancing the differing needs
of the automation networks and software used within machines and the factory floor,
commonly known as operational technology (OT), and the more familiar information technology (IT) used within a business (see page 15).
Old technology & new
Blending old technology and mature assets with new IIoT technologies is another
barrier, which we explore on page 26.
What is the RS Industria solution?
Finally, we put the case forward for RS Industria on page 28, a modular, plug-and-play platform that can get you started on your IIoT journey right now. With RS Industria, IIoT isn’t a future vision – it’s here, it works and we want to show you how to get started.
