As technology continues to evolve and transform industries, it is clear that communication remains key. Unlike traditional human to human verbal communication strategies, today’s powerhouse manufacturers employ machine to machine, or M2M, communication technologies to operate at peak efficiency.
M2M vs IoT
Before delving deeper into M2M as it relates to manufacturing, it’s important to understand how this technology differs from IoT. According to global digital service provider Incognito, there are several key differences between the connectivity that these two technologies make possible. While both allow devices to communicate with one another, M2M utilizes what is called “point-to-point” communication entrenched in device hardware that relies on wired or cellular networks. In contrast, IoT relies on shared IP networks, the cloud and the internet to communicate between devices. Despite the differences in how they connect devices, the communication and total connectivity of these technologies, when working harmoniously, have significantly transformed many industries.
Stats
Like IoT, the M2M market can be characterized as anything but small. One study highlighting connectivity trends reports that the number of global M2M connections will surpass 12 billion by 2020 and account for almost 46% of all connected devices. This technology is also projected to develop substantially in coming years as the industry boasts an annual growth rate of 25%.
M2M in Manufacturing
Given the popularity and revolutionary utility this technology provides, the manufacturing industry, like many others, has begun implementing M2M communication to improve operations. In most cases, manufacturers utilize this technology to monitor supply channels and track assets. Connected vehicles can communicate their location and cargo loads so that supply chain distribution can be properly managed. M2M is also playing a significant role in product development as the technology enables constant feedback well after point-of-sale. Manufacturers now have access to product data that allows them to understand how the product is performing and identify areas of improvement for future models. While asset tracking and product development are both enhanced by M2M, this technology’s influence on the predictive maintenance stage is unmatched.
M2M communication has allowed for major strides to be made in the predictive maintenance solution setting. Coupled with IoT capable sensors, machines are now able to send and store vast amounts of data that communicates with technicians to monitor their operational health. In the manufacturing industry, machine failures that were traditionally met with reactionary solutions are now treated with proactive measures to prevent downtime altogether, allowing facilities to operate at peak efficiency.
There’s no denying how popular M2M communication has become and how transformative of a technology it has been for the manufacturing industry, especially regarding predictive maintenance solutions. Contact the professionals at VibePro to reduce machine downtime, save on your bottom line, and ensure that your equipment operates at peak efficiency.
About VibePro
At VibePro, it is our mission to provide the best predictive tools on a single iPad platform and services to monitor nearly any asset. We strive to bring our customers the portability, connectivity, and affordability offered by the latest available technologies. Our product family combines wireless portable and online vibration data collection and analysis, balancing, shaft alignment, thermography, and ultrasound into an affordable and completely scalable solution on one simple to use platform. VibePro’s predictive technology apps feature many additions that have come directly from customers. Click here to learn more.