By this point, we have heard over and over again about smart manufacturing and how it can improve our operational efficiency.  Surprisingly, not only can smart manufacturing improve your efficiency on the floor, but it can also save energy and create a “greener” process as time goes on.  How is that possible?  And do you have to invest in Cloud technology in order to get these benefits?  Not always!  Read on for the bigger picture.

Leveraging internet-connected machinery can provide some important data, to be sure.  Real-time monitoring means the ability to intervene before a machine breaks down, to provide preventative maintenance that saves a company from paying expensive repairs later and suffering downtime, etc..  Some use the information in order to identify bottlenecks in the supply chain or uncover other issues that keep profits away.  Predictive analysis is probably the most exciting use for smart manufacturing, and it is generating the need for someone who can understand the analytics.

Another big savings opportunity is with energy usage.  Real-time data can help a business see where the energy waste is coming from, and the information can be useful to help identify and cut unnecessary activities – or streamline the operation.  But smart manufacturing doesn’t have to come in the form of an Internet connection in order to get huge savings with energy usage.  There are other techniques that also reduce waste and create efficiency.  It all starts with examining your equipment, particularly your mixers or steam heaters.  A carbon steel inline steam heater or static mixer reduces waste because of its advanced technology, less or no moving parts and many businesses experience extraordinary energy savings.  Better equipment means smoother operations and less downtime.

The proper equipment and smart manufacturing can help create sustainability, green and lean operations, energy reduction and stronger profits.