In Part 1 of this series I described how global competition and the IIoT are changing the industrial automation model. In the new model, the majority of the control function occurs at the field-level, a massive change that requires new kinds of field-level devices. The new devices will be “plug-and-produce,” that is, they are simply connected, turned on and presto! - they work. Many of them will also include programmable logic control features. These flexible, modular field-level devices will facilitate quick manufacturing changes, thereby getting products to market faster and cheaper. This is a key capability of the Smart Factory of the Future.

Many industrial processes use devices with sensing technology to perform automated tasks with efficiency and precision. With the increase in complexity of manufacturing processes, however, comes the opportunity for things to go wrong – especially with a limited human presence in most industrial applications. Now, as these applications get smarter and smaller, even the sensors have sensors.

The Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) is revolutionizing the way manufacturing is done by connecting more smart devices and sharing the information they produce to improve existing business models and enable new ones. Nowhere is this more evident than in the industrial arena, where experts estimate the economic impact of the IIoT to reach $11.1 trillion by the year 2025.

The Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) is changing both automation systems and business systems. Standard Internet technologies are penetrating deeper into control systems and many more things are being connected to the factory network. In parallel, additional data is flowing into and out of industrial control systems, leading to business benefits such as better asset utilization, lower energy consumption and improved supply chain management.

The goals of the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) are the same goals that industry has had forever: reducing downtime, cutting costs and staying competitive. What’s different about the next industrial revolution is how the goals will be met. This time the breakthrough in innovation involves interconnectivity and the self-regulation of machines, along with a dose of Big Data, to drive continuous improvement processes.