The IIoT can automate data collection and dissemination in real-time, while AI can analyze large quantities of data to predict potential problems. AR/VR tools can help operators diagnose and troubleshoot problems immediately. MES ensures no product leaves the dock until all tests and inspections have been confirmed, reducing the risk of product recalls. These technologies not only improve product quality but also reduce costs associated with low-quality production, such as insurance fees, legal fees, recall costs, and material waste.
Key takeaways:
- Smart manufacturing technologies such as the industrial internet of things (IIoT), artificial intelligence (AI), augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR) and manufacturing execution systems (MES) can help ensure first-pass manufacturing quality, reducing costs and increasing efficiency.
- These technologies can help prevent product recalls and protect brand equity by ensuring no product leaves the dock until all tests and inspections have been confirmed and all necessary approvals and signoffs have been obtained.
- Smart manufacturing can also reduce supply chain inventories by making manufacturing processes more reliable and predictable, and by automating data collection and analysis, leading to cost reductions and improvements in quality assurance.
- By providing real-time notifications and turning raw data into actionable information, smart manufacturing tools can help quickly identify and correct quality issues, preventing them from becoming major problems.