What Industrial Owners Need to Know About IoT

Manufacturers are adopting more automation and technology into their businesses, but many have a lot of questions about the best facilities to accommodate technology integration. The biggest tip is to look for open architecture. This is the key to integrate a wide range of technology throughout an industrial space and to integrate that technology with other systems, according to Rudy Calderon of Current, Powered by GE, a company that works to integrate technology systems in industrial spaces.

“Look for an open architecture. The ability to integrate with other systems is paramount,” Calderon, general manager of industrial accounts at Current, powered by GE, tells GlobeSt.com. “Many manufacturers have a building management system in addition to several other software platforms and you want an IoT provider that can facilitate the integration of all those disparate systems. You need to be able to bring together multiple systems so that you can get a truly comprehensive view and control of what’s happening in the facility.”

In general, technology is becoming more common for manufacturers, yet industrial facilities don’t have built in tech access. When architecture is open on the top and the bottom, it allows for different types of automated systems and sensors that will ultimately enhance productivity and product quality. These can be crucial to a manufacturing business, especially today. Current, Powered by GE has several platforms to guide manufacturers through the process. “We create that ability to integrate your systems with an architecture that is open on the top and open on the bottom,” adds Calderon. “Open on the bottom refers to our ability to accommodate a variety of sensors and controls with our Zigbee enabled platform. Open on the top refers to the ability to create API’s to other third party software providers and share information in the cloud. Open hardware and open software create that type of open architecture that puts you in a position to choose the solutions that are available today that are right for you, but that type of openness also creates a future-proof environment.”

There are several new technologies that can be used in industrial facilities, from sensors to energy efficient tools. “Technology can help reduce waste and increase energy efficiency across the board: whether it’s lighting, HVAC or other inputs like water and gas,” says Calderon. “For example, a digital platform can be task-tuned to lower light levels where they’re not needed during certain points during the day. Or occupancy and motion sensors can automatically turn lights off when no one is present. This technology also enables daylight harvesting: leveraging natural light then adjusting the output of lighting fixtures to take advantage of that natural light.”