Challenges to Creating a Digital Thread in 3 Major Industries

Integrating new technologies into the organization is the foundation of industry 4.0 — the newest industrial revolution. The Internet of Things (IoT) enables machines to talk to each other in real time and analyze data, increasing efficiency and uncovering insights. Remote monitoring (RM) offers visibility into the network, both people and machinery, to optimize operations. Augmented reality (AR) enhances the real-world environment and creates an immersive and flexible experience to take manufacturing and training activities to the next level.

Moving from the possibility of a digital thread to implementing one for the future does come with challenges -- general challenges for all organizations, and specific challenges for three major industries: Commercial, Medical Devices, and Defense. 

Challenges

While organizations are building out their digital capabilities, there is understandable concern about large investments of time and money, even in industries that are not traditionally risk averse. Here’s a look at some of the general challenges for companies to resolve before investing in new technology.

• Workforce management: Digital natives bring their comfort with technology into the workplace and have the skills needed to drive a digital-first organization. But many companies struggle with having enough in-house talent to deploy advanced technologies -including installing the equipment and sensors and analyzing the data. 
  
  
• Legacy systems and equipment: Outdated software, equipment, infrastructure, or systems may be unable to support increased levels of processing and the accelerated pace of business that new technologies facilitate. This will require rearchitecting, rebuilding, or replacement to meet the new requirements of a digital-first business model
  
  
• Cybersecurity risk: The IoT and RM open new avenues for compromising data and the enterprise due to factors like the scale of the data organizations are managing, the number of devices, and the fact that third parties are often involved. 

While many challenges are universal, individual industries are prone to particular areas of consideration, given their relationship to markets, patients, and security. 

Commercial

Manufacturing is one of the biggest sectors on the leading edge of IoT, RM, and AR technologies in the commercial space. Integrated manufacturing requires connected devices (both physical and digital) and RM for visibility along with AR for maintenance and training. These technologies eliminate blind spots, enable predictive maintenance, highlight new opportunities, facilitate remote collaboration, and provide data analytics and insight. They do, however, require:

• A full understanding of employee and user interface with new equipment
• A path forward for implementing the new technology in a planned manner
• Ways to address concerns of data collection, storage and usage, especially in cases of in-field sourcing
• Added levels of training, often based on age and sophistication of workforce
• An agreed method of Interpreting the influx of data, and the ability to make use of the information

Medical Devices

The ability to receive real-time data makes a difference. Instead of waiting for something to go wrong and the situation to become an emergency, for example, a connected device could report statistics and key performance indicators in real time so that teams could get ahead of potential breakdowns. Even with new connective technology, companies must consider the following requirements when implementing the digital thread:

• Medical devices are highly complex systems that must work 24/7/365 without fail
• Global regulations require that devices and their components be traceable from the initial design through implementation
• Patient protection is the paramount goal, both in the effectiveness of the device, and in the collection and storage of data

Defense

 Enterprises in this sector are investing in IoT, RM, and AR to streamline efficiencies and evolving to become more like their commercial counterparts, as modern soldiers, for example, require real-time information at their fingertips. While the digital thread is opening opportunities for a more responsive military, the following challenges need consideration: 

• The defense industry is generally risk averse, as the costs of failure are high
• Information must be kept out of the wrong people’s hands
• Decisions need to be made in a timely manner.
• Improvements in situational awareness must also come with reliability

The digital thread is leading to new process innovations that enhance operations and increase profitability for organizations across industries. And advanced technologies such as IoT, AR, and RM are key ingredients of that digital-first strategy. The journey starts with understanding the business case—how smart connected products and the analytics and operational efficiencies they enable can add value to all areas of an enterprise ready to make the investment.

Enterprises must answer some tough questions: What is the value of the IoT, RM, or AR to the
organization? What will we do with the data and insights gathered? What is the cost of not adopting? Once questions like these are answered, it is time for a pilot project to test it out in a small area of the business as proof of concept.

Answers to these questions will drive investment decisions, which will shape the future for the companies that choose the digital thread. After all, these technologies are already changing people’s lives for the better. The only real question is: Will your company be part of that change?

Across industries, businesses are facing up to the risks—including workforce management challenges, the impact of not updating existing infrastructure and legacy technology, and security risks—and making the investment. Boston Engineering has the team and the experience to make your implementation of the digital thread a success. If you are considering making the transition to a digital first organization, we would appreciate the opportunity to lead you through the many challenges involved in making it a reality. Reach out to us today and let’s start the conversation.

No matter the challenge, our team possesses the expertise in the engineering disciplines and technologies you need to bring your vision to life. Impossible Challenge? Try Us.

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