Date: September 7, 2021 | Images: iStock
The journey from traditional DECT phones to the smart factory may seem arduous, but it is worth the effort. Interconnecting people and machines not only increases efficiency and cuts costs, but also improves employee safety and satisfaction. A step-by-step approach to renewing ICT infrastructure is an expedient approach.
Imagine
you are standing in one of the massive warehouses of an industrial company, watching a robot that independently maneuvers to one of the many shelves, drives up its entire length, picks up a product weighing several pounds and directly transports it to one of the responsible handlers. The employee does not have to expose themselves to any risk, which helps protect their safety and ensures they can take care of another task during the process.
But that’s not all:
From the corner of your eye, you notice a forklift operator with augmented reality glasses kneeling in front of their machine to fix a malfunction by themselves, with the sensors built into the forklift directing them to the defect. An expert involved in the repairs process through a smart collaboration solution explains how to resolve the issue in real time. At the same time, a system technician modifies a production machine before it fails as a digital twin informs them that an external factor will lead to a disruption within a few hours.
This might all sound a bit far-fetched, but these are just a few of the applications that will be a reality in the smart factory of tomorrow. Many companies are still a far cry from this vision of the smart factory, seeing as how industrial digitization is still progressing slowly. To name an example, pagers or the traditional DECT radio standard are still used at many locations.
DECT phones are convenient for companies whose employees are often on the go around their own premises, sometimes also serving as an alarm solution. They are highly reliable. That is why many companies still opt against switching to one of the many mobile communications-based collaboration solutions that are already available. These would come with significant added value over DECT telephones, connecting employees from wherever they are. The range of DECT phones is very limited when compared to mobile devices.
There are many reasons why the industry is lagging behind – ranging from special demands placed on equipment and the security of the processes, through to excessive initial costs and the need to first change the mindset of employees. What is often forgotten here: No one expects companies to digitize overnight. The process can be tackled step by step.
Gradually achieving the goal
A first step, for example, is to connect employees, customers and suppliers through smart collaboration solutions. This helps minimize travel times, design collaboration – for example between employees in administration and production – in a more efficient manner and develop a common knowledge base by sharing existing information. This in turn significantly impacts productivity.
A further step is the networking of new machines with sensors that provide valuable data for companies. If these data are processed efficiently with the right software, the machines will be able to communicate not only with one another, but also with the responsible human counterparts in the future. This can, for example, significantly reduce and to some extent avoid expensive maintenance work. Considering that, according to industry estimates, these make up around 70% of the total cost of ownership (TCO), it is indispensable to take this into account. Once the factory has been networked, the step towards intelligent industrial operation is rather manageable.
Successfully courting skilled workers
The digitization of production not only contributes to the business success of a company, but also to its attractiveness for customers and business partners as well as existing and potential employees. The use of modern technologies also has a positive effect on how the public perceives a company. This is crucial in the battle for the most skilled employees. Employees who use smartphones and tablets for private purposes on a daily basis also expect to be able to do so at their workplace – whether at their desk or in the production hall.
High-performance communication networks are a prerequisite for networked as well as smart industrial enterprises. After all, new technologies such as edge computing, the Internet of Things, machine learning and augmented reality are generating huge data volumes that need to be processed with the lowest possible latency. These new technologies in turn pave the way for process automation.
5G networks allow for the transmission of vast data volumes, making it a suitable technology for many applications. By introducing 5G, Georg Fischer AG was able to increase its transmission speeds to 1.1 Gbit/s – 10 times faster than before. «As a result, we were able to virtually, securely and with low latency connect machines to cloud services and infrastructure,» explains Robert Perez, Head of Innovation «New Technologies» at Georg Fischer AG.
Another advantage of the wireless standard is that connected machines do not require cabling, opening up the possibility of flexible conversions and effortless fleet expansions. This can constitute a decisive cost benefit with changing production requirements.
The right partner by your side
When switching to networked production, it is recommended to rely on an experienced partner with a suitable network of hardware and software specialists. Your partner identifies alternatives to outdated ICT infrastructure and ensures that the new applications can be easily integrated into the existing IT and production environment. At the same time, the security of data is ensured and you will have support in finding an optimal balance between human work and automated production technology. Because only by combining human and artificial intelligence can process automation unfold its full potential and cut costs.
Innovative companies such as Georg Fischer AG demonstrate that the vision of the smart factory is not as far-fetched as we originally posited. Now it’s your turn benefit from the advantages networked and intelligent factories have to offer. You are guaranteed cost savings and efficiency gains, along with satisfied customers and employees. This investment pays off – for manufacturing companies of all sizes.
Free ICT infrastructure check
Are you looking to connect your machines, automate production processes and simplify collaboration? Create the best conditions for efficient processes and exchange with suppliers and customers. Take this opportunity and have our technicians check your ICT infrastructure – free of charge and without obligation. Together with our Professional Services team, we will assess your current situation and work together to find solutions tailored to your needs.
Sunrise is the ideal partner for your Industry 4.0 projects
Fast Internet and secure corporate networking at your factory premises, flexible landline calling with cloud-based communication tools, secure alarm solutions and attractive conditions for global mobile phone services and IoT networking – with Sunrise, you get everything you need for the workplace of tomorrow from a single source. Our Business Booster webinars will keep you in the loop on the modern workplace and networked machines. Our industry experts help you discover how to develop your company with a look to the future.