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As the automation of processes and deployment becomes more prevalent in the manufacturing industry, the need for IT services grows further. The use of complex systems and technologies, such as AI and robotics has become the new normal for manufacturing organizations.
While the majority of organizations within this industry have adapted to the increase in technology to streamline processes, there are new challenges that are having a detrimental effect on these companies. The significant rise in inflation, energy price shocks, and economic uncertainty have all contributed to a volatile landscape. As well as this, the ever-increasing likelihood of malicious individuals looking to exploit technologies, further adds to the challenge. Due to this, resilience has become the new strategic imperative for manufacturers during these challenging times.
Facing trying times like these can lead to innovation. Manufacturers have had no option other than to become smarter, more efficient, and more agile. Yet, for these organizations to be able to innovate they need to be able to utilize their data effectively. So, the task is to discover a security and sustainability solution that applies to both IT and OT, encouraging innovation and growth rather than impeding them.
The solution for these manufacturing organizations is to incorporate an observability solution, such as the one provided by Logit.io. With an observability solution manufacturers can streamline their current operations and utilize valuable data to derive insights and drive innovation. Whilst also guaranteeing the security of your IT infrastructure. This presents a significant opportunity for manufacturers to stay ahead of the curve and navigate the current challenges that the industry is facing.
Within this article, we will outline what observability is and the broad range of use cases for an observability solution in the manufacturing industry.
Contents
What is Observability?
The simple definition of observability is the extent to which the internal state and actions of a system can be inferred or deduced from its externally visible outputs. Observability encompasses the ability to attain insights into the performance, health, and overall behavior of a system by monitoring and examining its outputs, such as logs, metrics, and traces, these three sources (logs, metrics, and traces) are seen as the three pillars of observability.
The term enables a better comprehension of system dynamics, identification of issues, and assists in efficient troubleshooting and debugging processes. Observability is vital for maintaining and enhancing the reliability, performance, and resilience of complex systems.
How Observability Can Empower Manufacturers
Manufacturing organizations utilizing Logit.io’s observability solution for manufacturers can easily enable users to attain insights to drive innovation from the extensive array of data the platform centralises. However, it can be difficult to know where to begin with the endless possibilities that are available via using an observability tool. So, we have produced a list of some of the best use cases for the solution when applied to the manufacturing industry.
Equipment Monitoring
A manufacturer's machinery and equipment is arguably the most fundamental part of the organization. If this is not operating at maximum efficiency it could have a detrimental impact on the entire company. Therefore conducting equipment monitoring will guarantee the optimal performance of machinery and equipment. This entails utilizing sensors and monitoring devices on manufacturing equipment to gather information on factors such as temperature, pressure, vibration, and energy consumption. This is a vital practice as it allows for early detection of potential issues, predictive maintenance, and optimization of equipment utilization.
Supply Chain Visibility
Understanding the supply chain for manufacturing companies provides opportunities for innovation and improvements. With an observability solution, these companies can enhance transparency and efficiency in the supply chain. This is achieved through using tracking technologies, such as RFID or IoT devices, to monitor the movement of raw materials, work-in-progress, and finished goods. This will supply real-time visibility into the supply chain, reduce lead times, and improve inventory management.
Energy Management
Similar to cybersecurity, sustainability is a growing concern with many organizations. This is in part, due to the impact of climate change via operational and supply chain disruptions, regulatory uncertainty, and increased employee anxiety. This has led to many organizations setting goals and plans to become more sustainable, as seen by 67% of businesses planning to be net-zero by 2030.
Sustainability is just as vital in the manufacturing industry, with there being multiple methods for these companies to adopt to become more sustainable. One example of this is monitoring, in order to reduce, energy consumption. By incorporating an observability tool manufacturers can monitor and examine energy consumption data from multiple manufacturing processes to optimize their usage. This is advantageous to these companies as it enables the identification of energy inefficiencies, implementation of energy-saving measures, and compliance with sustainability goals.
Employee Safety
Whilst observability solutions focus on optimizing systems through data, there are other uses that may not be as obvious. An example of this is improving employee safety when working with machinery and equipment. Utilizing an observability solution can help to ensure a safe working environment for manufacturing personnel, by deploying sensors and wearable devices to monitor environmental conditions and worker activities. This enables the early detection of safety hazards, preventive measures, and compliance with safety regulations.
Compliance
Maintaining compliance with numerous requirements and regulations is crucial for practically all organizations. With an observability solution, your manufacturing organization can guarantee adherence to industry regulations and standards. This is conducted by implementing monitoring systems to monitor and document compliance with relevant regulations. This is beneficial as it not only provides enhanced corporate responsibility but also the avoidance of penalties and risk mitigation.
Quality Control
Manufacturers need to be able to guarantee the quality of their products and eliminate those products that fall short of your high standards to maintain customer satisfaction. With an observability solution, these organizations can install sensors and cameras to monitor and examine product quality at different stages of the manufacturing process. Ensuring the production of high-quality goods. This will lead to a reduction in waste, early detection of defects, and continuous improvement in product quality.
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If you’ve enjoyed this article why not read APM vs Tracing vs Observability or our Beginners Guide to Observability next?