Co-authored by Carlos Rojas and David Gutshall.
Manufacturing was entrance and middle at Cisco Reside US 2023, with a number of of the world’s main producers coming collectively to share experiences and focus on expertise developments, challenges, and improvements. For instance, Dr. Henning Löser, Head of the Audi Manufacturing Lab at Audi AG, joined the Cisco group for an Innovation Speak and Dice interview concerning the convergence of data expertise (IT) and operational expertise (OT). Dr. Löser shared particulars concerning the firm’s progressive plans to virtualize key manufacturing belongings with the aim to extend flexibility, decrease prices, scale back upkeep, and enhance safety. A journey towards what Audi calls the Edge Cloud for Manufacturing (EC4P) platform.
We additionally hosted a Manufacturing Management Summit that introduced collectively trade leaders from auto, renewable power, prescribed drugs, meals and beverage, heavy trade, and many others. for a extra intimate dialogue of experiences, challenges, and improvements. I sensed an undercurrent of optimistic power and mutual respect as these leaders shared their tales round growing ranges of digitization, enhancing safety, and deploying wired and wi-fi networks in new and current vegetation and manufacturing traces. Many discussions centered on the way to finest drive IT/OT convergence, particularly pushed by instruments like Cisco Catalyst Heart (previously generally known as Cisco DNA Heart). Attendees additionally mentioned efforts to spice up visibility and cybersecurity. And we heard concerning the push to improve networking in current vegetation and put money into wi-fi networks for automated guided automobiles (AGVs) and different cell belongings.
Having mulled over what I heard at Cisco Reside US, I’ve landed on these 5 takeaways.
Takeaway #1: Manufacturing is heading in direction of a expertise paradigm shift
As producers improve digitization on manufacturing unit flooring, they’ll now not look to particular person items of {hardware} for sure options or capabilities. As a substitute, they should put money into software program that may present the wanted capabilities.
This paradigm shift was a key message rising from the iTalk about Audi’s collaboration with Cisco. As Dr. Löser has famous, “To extend safety, lower assist necessities, and enhance flexibility, Audi is creating its Edge Cloud for Manufacturing (EC4P) platform. EC4P virtualizes manufacturing belongings and depends on software-defined networking by Cisco IoT and Enterprise options that present a scalable, resilient, safe and deterministic community.”
By making this shift from {hardware} to software program, producers can keep away from vital upkeep complications and scale back capital outlays. They’ll enhance safety and adaptability – all by streamlining {hardware} and virtualizing core computing belongings like programmable logic controllers (PLCs), Human-Machine Interfaces (HMIs), and industrial private computer systems (IPCs). The IoT Manufacturing Trade Summit supplied proof that this shift is already doable, with Roland Wagner – who leads Product Advertising at Codesys – demonstrating the readiness of the digital PLC stay.
Takeaway #2: Safety stays high of thoughts
In a pre-event survey, manufacturing leaders expressed issues about cybersecurity, with visibility and threat evaluation topping their priorities. One other frequent barrier: lack of accuracy in realizing their very own asset stock, site visitors flows, and what every asset is related to. And but, as producers work to allow additional digitization initiatives, they should do greater than obtain that form of baseline visibility. In addition they want to determine entry insurance policies to phase their community to allow them to extra exactly management community exercise and forestall malware unfold.
We regularly take into consideration cybersecurity by way of prevention and protection. Curiously, one producer shared how its cybersecurity investments produced a tangible return. This firm used Cisco networking and safety expertise to handle insurance-company inquiries into cybersecurity inside its manufacturing surroundings. Having sound, defensible solutions paid off within the type of considerably decrease insurance coverage premiums – which helped fund extra investments.
Takeaway #3: There’s loads of urge for food for wi-fi applied sciences in manufacturing environments
I used to be impressed with the extent of demand for wi-fi applied sciences. In terms of 5G and personal 5G, although, there appears to be lots of urge for food however few, if any, real-world deployments. It appears that evidently by combining different wi-fi options – particularly WiFi and Cisco Extremely-Dependable Wi-fi Backhaul – firms can assist a lot of their enterprise wants and use circumstances, particularly round cell belongings, resembling Automated Information Autos and AMRs that require dependable wi-fi connectivity.
Takeaway #4: Collaboration is vital to success
Cisco IoT has lengthy advocated for stronger IT-OT partnerships. Through the summit, it was fascinating to listen to that just about each buyer reiterated the significance of IT-OT collaboration in powering the success of producing digitization initiatives. A lot of the attending firms and audio system had OT involvement exhibiting the development in direction of deeper collaboration.
Informally, I heard some manufacturing leaders voicing being impressed by Dr. Löser openness about Audi’s EC4P imaginative and prescient and journey. From my perspective, it’s a willingness to acknowledge that every one automotive producers are dealing with some frequent issues – and a recognition that it’ll take an ecosystem (that features rivals) response to unravel them. By the best way, I don’t assume automotive is the one manufacturing phase the place this type of collaboration will probably be very important!
Takeaway #5: Options should be easy, scalable, and straightforward to make use of
The summit affirmed that the manufacturing trade has made vital progress in digitization. Corporations now need to take the following steps towards cloud, virtualization, and superior safety – the capabilities that Cisco can allow with our scalable, resilient, and safe industrial networking. I noticed vital curiosity in a number of of our options, together with Safe Gear Entry and the lately introduced SKUs throughout the Cisco Catalyst IE9300 Rugged Sequence switches. Each meet the necessity for simplicity, scalability, and ease of use.
Whether or not you joined us in Las Vegas or are catching up remotely, listed below are some methods you possibly can interact with Cisco and study our options:
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