As COVID-19 restrictions ease and industrial activity rebounds, executives still face new struggles every day. Even in parts of the world where the initial effects have started to recede, serious dislocations appear to remain for some time to come. Against this backdrop, managing data is hard for many manufacturers, but further challenges are to overcome when combined with a lack of digital resources. Manufacturers are constantly switching gears to determine how best to serve their customers in the years ahead. Placing the innovation of technology to take the front seat to stay ahead of industry trends and keep pace with the competition made smart manufacturing possible by the advent of the fourth industrial revolution. It has brought transformative changes to the industry. Smart manufacturing refers to computer-aided manufacturing characterized by a high level of automation driven by next-gen technologies like AI and machine learning. It has already become one of the most sought-after business models for medium and large-scale manufacturers worldwide.

We are likely to witness significant advancements in smart manufacturing as the new-age analytics tools will help enterprises gain deeper insights into manufacturing processes, rendering access to unreachable data sources to conventional software tools.That said, IoT devices generate massive pools of data that enterprises can process using advanced analytics tools. It plays a vital role in the manufacturing industry as it helps extract useful information from numerous data sources. Big data holds immense value in a manufacturing business as it can reveal hidden patterns about customers’ likes/preferences and buying habits. Business intelligence has also become a staple for manufacturing ERP that leverages data-driven technologies like AI and machine learning to improve business decision-making. BI application development provides advanced analytics tools and data visualization techniques to make smarter decisions for future events with calculated risk. At the same time, BI tools provide effective means for data warehousing, data mining, and compliance management. In 1983, Advantech is a leading provider of system integration, hardware, software, customer-centric design services, embedded systems, automation products, and global logistics support. The company cooperates closely with its partners to help provide complete solutions for a wide array of applications across a diverse range of industries. Its mission is to enable an intelligent planet with Automation and Embedded Computing solutions that empower the development of smarter working and living.

Advantech’s iFactory SRP-FEC210 is a complete application-ready platform that includes a high performance.

Intel ATOM multi core processor, fanless DIN rail compact form factor, Windows 7 Professional, and Embedded Systems, and CODESYS control runtime and visualization software. By allowing users to achieve an open control solution quickly, the SRP-FEC210 enables real-time PLC or PLC/Softmotion control with flexible Fieldbus options such as PROFINET, EtherCAT, EtherNet/IP, and Modbus TCP/RTU, in addition to providing data visualization in parallel on different HMI clients. The EKI-5526I provides 16 10/100Mbps Ethernet ports with memory buffers that support a store-and-forward mechanism, ensuring that all data is transmitted correctly. The switch has a redundant power supply to prevent data loss should the first power input fail and current overload protection to prevent damage.

We are likely to witness significant advancements in smart manufacturing as the new-age analytics tools will help enterprises gain deeper insights into manufacturing processes, rendering access to unreachable data sources to conventional software tools

For growing precision parts and furnace manufacturers, Advantech’s intelligent automation solutions provide unparalleled convenience and efficiency by integrating wireless hardware with powerful software, reducing system complexity, and streamlining installation. Modern production lines rely on complex operations involving multiple computers and industrial machines, and while such operations are necessarily highly complex, production line systems and solutions don’t have to be. By providing a fully integrated software/hardware package, Advantech enabled one of Indonesia’s leading precision parts and furnace manufacturers to quickly modernize their facilities to increase productivity, maximize profitability and remain competitive in the global marketplace of tomorrow. Advantech’s ADAM-4570 and ADAM-4571L are fast and cost-effective data gateways between serial and Ethernet interfaces that provide remote management and data accessibility to RS-232/422/485 devices. The maximum transmission speed of the units is 230 kbps, ensuring high-speed data exchanges. The devices also come with a Windows utility, allowing them to be easily configured without further programming. In addition to ensuring that current hardware investments are protected, these reliable units also ensure that protocol conversion is transparent and seamlessly integrates with all existing devices within an Ethernet network.

The units could be used for various applications and purposes, including security systems, factory automation, transportation, and more.

To further illustrate, a leading manufacturer from Indonesia is providing key solutions to corporate partners worldwide. Still, to grow as a company, they needed equipment monitoring solutions to bolster the output of its production line processes. With assistance from Advantech’s best-in-class equipment monitoring technology, the manufacturer found several simple solutions to their needs, ramping up their production line efficiency through seamless data acquisition and visualization using every innovation available to maximize the value and efficiency of their production lines. At the same time, the realities of global competition require manufacturers’ budgets to be as lean as possible, leaving only limited funding for infrastructure investments. Considering these constraints, an effective equipment monitoring system should be sufficiently compact and f lexible to allow installation in diverse factory environments and support a wide range of machinery and equipment. Fortunately, Advantech offered all the needed solutions and the expertise to combine them into a single package offering tremendous functionality and maximum versatility. Specifically, Advantech supplied its data gateways to provide a platform solution that was easy to develop, configure and deploy. Using the same platform, cost-effective monitoring systems could be quickly deployed in many factory environments.

The COVID-19 pandemic has presented humanitarian challenges on a global scale that require a new type of collaboration to address. Organizations are beginning to restart their operations in the next normal; they have an opportunity to reimagine a future with digitized, resilient operations. As a pioneer and leader in the embedded market, Advantech offers a one stop service model to integrate embedded boards and systems, software, displays, and peripherals with customer centric design in services for various industries. To address the market for IoT applications, it can integrate all embedded solutions with all types of wireless data acquisition solutions, WISE-PaaS software for manageability, security functions, and sensor to cloud connectivity solutions. Engaging with Advantech can save time in making a decision and get real-time service around the world. Reports suggest that companies that start on their industry journey and scale regularly can commit to Industry 4.0 transformation in line with their business environment and strategic objectives and execute it using a triple transformation approach.