Industrial IoT starts to make real-world progress

While the Internet of Things (IoT) for consumers is gaining the lion's share of the publicity (and hype), the technology is quietly finding its way into industrial applications. Industrial adopters tend to stay quiet about their plans and progress, though, in order to avoid revealing too much to their competitors. But stories are now coming to light about the IoT in industry, and the business case for adoption of connectivity is starting to sound compelling.

By Richard Quinnell, EETimes, May. 31, 2016 – 

Heavy industries such as manufacturing and mining tend to be conservative in their outlook and slow to adopt new technologies. But the promises of increased efficiency and cost savings that form the siren's call for industrial IoT can be compelling, leading the bold to try things out. One such trial was announced by Fujitsu last year. Working with Intel, the company aimed to conduct a proof of business trial at its Shimane Fujitsu factory.

The planned project built on both company's technologies. Fujitsu applied its sensor technology and distributed service platform along with Intel's IoT Gateway with the aim of showing how the IoT can provide measurable value in an industrial setting. The factory, which primarily produces laptop PCs, sought to reduce cost by using the IoT to explore a specific pain point - unexplained repair/rework problems.

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