The interconnectivity and real-time nature of Digital Thread technologies are changing the fundamental ways that businesses operate. Information from sensors, machines, processors, and people can be captured, measured, and analyzed for a variety of uses, such as optimizing and automating operations, improving task efficiencies, enhancing R&D, and upgrading production.
Sustainability with Strategic Information
It’s important to think about adoption of these technologies as future-proofing the organization. Access to real-time information boosts profitability by increasing efficiencies, improving margins, and providing real-time visualizations of what is happening in the business. As a result, organizations uncover actionable insights that facilitate more informed decision-making. Here are some actionable insights to consider:
- Predictive maintenance of factory floor equipment reduces downtime
- AR training for employees reduces production errors & reduces total training
time for new hires - Real-time data uncovers trends that shorten product development times
- Product use data predicts service needs
- In-field feedback identifies issues that reduce profits
The result: A connected organization using a real-time informational ecosystem to make more informed, data-driven decisions.
Actionable Insight for 3 Key Industries
Commercial
The connected technologies of the digital thread give everyone from line workers in manufacturing plants to executive management in front offices access to the data they need, when they need it. Enterprises in the commercial space are using IoT, RM, and AR to
- eliminate blind spots in their processes,
- predict maintenance needs
- identify new market opportunities.
Factories are expected to see the largest potential economic value from IoT and the use of remote sensing as a competitive strategy.
Medical
Successful medical devices—from a home health device that helps a patient manage a disease to diagnostic equipment in a hospital setting—are complex systems with thousands of parts that have to work right, all the time, to protect patient health. Medical device companies are using IoT, RM, and AR for activities such as:
- Monitoring traceability from design and development to deployment in the field
- Measuring key performance indicators (e.g., power battery levels, device vibration, or
temperature) to enable repair before a product breaks - Gathering data (e.g., performance or usage trends) for product upgrades and next-generation product development
Defense
The defense industry must prioritize the most critical, tactical assets to be ready to deploy,
often on the front lines of conflict. This need for speed and efficiency drives decision-making, and defense enterprises are slow to change and trust new solutions. Deloitte reports that 30% of U.S. aerospace and defense companies are currently implementing digital thread initiatives.
Here, the digital thread:
- Speeds the process from design to delivery and improves production efficiency
- Improves logistics and resource optimization
- Provides tools that allow one person to do the job of several people
Smart connected products and operations and the analytics and operational efficiencies they enable can add real value to all areas of an enterprise ready to make the investment. Whether directly via product improvement or development or indirectly by increasing efficiencies, these technologies are already changing people’s lives for the better.
Ready to Make the 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.
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.
For additional information about technical specifications and availability, please contact us at info@www.boston-engineering.com.
