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Data collection on the factory floor can be a challenge. Even the smallest enterprise can generate massive amounts of data, and collecting this data is only a first step on the path to a successful IIoT project.

Digitizing an organization’s existing systems, processes, tasks and assets can be a daunting undertaking. There are a myriad of different workflow processes to examine, siloed departments to incorporate and even existing connected device (i.e. IoT) data to consolidate. 

Two years ago, Process Engineer Bill Roberts and his team at Minnesota-based Roberts Automatic Products, Inc., were looking to improve the company’s statistical process control (SPC) and its overall data collection processes.

For medical device manufacturers, having a product that functions as designed is critical, as a person’s health—or even their life—could be at risk. It’s one thing if my Alexa won’t respond to a voice command to remind me of a task, but it may be life threatening if my asthma inhaler won’t give me the medication I need when I’m struggling to breathe.

Not long ago, IT integration projects were an intimidating task due to the historic number of failed projects. This is not the case today because the technology exists and when combined with proper implementation they are very successful.

Additively manufactured parts face unique testing challenges. Along with many aspects of additive manufacturing, testing and inspection of additively manufactured parts is now being studied. Last October the ASTM International Additive Manufacturing Center of Excellence announced its first set of R&D projects.