Technological innovations are changing the face of manufacturing and maintenance. These technologies are helping companies maximize efficiency and effectiveness and make intelligent business decisions. The role of humans in these processes is also changing, requiring skill sets that allow companies to utilize these digital tools fully. Here are four trends that are influencing business decisions in these sectors.
Mobile Communication
Manufacturing and facilities maintenance industries are also increasingly using mobile communication for easily and effectively to communicate with personnel. Mobile communication tools also keep the employees connected to each other and to give or receive information in real time without any form of delay. What’s important is that technicians and other employees out in the field for example have all the details they require, such as the maintenance history or operating instructions at their fingertips, in the place it is required.
Mobile applications and applications also enable the employee to feed information directly into a CMMS or a CRM system. It enables your team to add important details almost instantly making your records as accurate as they can be. Further, in the time when many companies have to work with ever thinning and geographically dispersed teams, mobile communication tools are boosting productivity and allowing organizations to accomplish more with less.
Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT)
Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) has been spreading among different sectors such as manufacturing & production asset management. Sensors in machines are connected to wireless networks that gather and share data and make the data available for analysis. Increased affordability of IIoT devices, expanding network options, and advancing big data analytics have combined to make it easier for companies of all sizes to start using IIoT in their operations, or to enlarge existing systems.
Companies are using IIot devices to collect data across many categories. Equipment conditions can be assessed using sensors that monitor vibration data, as well as through thermal imaging. Energy usage data is tracked to analyze trends and develop strategies to reduce energy usage and shift peak usage times to take advantage of off-peak energy rates.
Maintenance as a Service (MaaS)
The rise of cloud computing has led to more companies offering or utilizing Maintenance as a Service (MaaS) programs. You may be familiar with cloud-based maintenance services offered by some auto makers. In addition to delivering reminders for scheduled maintenance such as oil changes, these services track vehicle diagnostics and alert subscribers to more urgent or unexpected service needs. MaaS is a similar service for machinery and industrial equipment. MaaS systems collect data from sensors on equipment, then use the power of cloud-computing to analyze equipment conditions to develop predictive maintenance schedules and alert users to potential failures.
A variety of equipment vendors are offering MaaS programs for the machines they sell, and third-party vendors are offering MaaS for manufacturing and other industries. Both equipment vendors and third-party companies offer a spectrum of services within their MaaS products. Some of the services offered by MaaS vendors include maintenance service recommendations, maintenance training services for on-site staff, and even full maintenance operations management including technicians who perform the work.
Like many other cloud-based services such as asset management and data storage, MaaS are available as subscription services. This lowers the capital costs of on-site computing, shifting costs to monthly or operational expenses. The flexibility and scalability of MaaS make it affordable for organizations of all sizes. Companies pay only for what they need, and can easily adjust services to adapt to changing needs.
Workforce Trends
The unemployment rates are near historical lows, making the labor market more competitive than before and the time spent on recruiting for open positions is getting more and more longer. There is a rapid rate of retirement among working professionals more than ever there are entrants into the workforce. The young people coming to the work force are already computer literate, and have prior experience of using technology.
Traditional methods and skills are still needed in maintenance and manufacturing, but there is a growing shift to more digital and automated methods in the workplace. Knowledge of analytics and data interpretation are becoming more important as more companies adopt data-tracking solutions. Networking and telecommunication skills are also in demand as they are needed to build and maintain the systems that make cloud-based and other digital solutions possible.
Maintenance and manufacturing continue to adapt to a changing, interconnected world. Many companies are adopting technological solutions and skills to improve operations and stay competitive.
CMMS Software
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