Co-authored by Carlos Rojas and David Gutshall.
Manufacturing was entrance and heart at Cisco Dwell US 2023, with a number of of the world’s main producers coming collectively to share experiences and talk about know-how developments, challenges, and improvements. For instance, Dr. Henning Löser, Head of the Audi Manufacturing Lab at Audi AG, joined the Cisco staff for an Innovation Speak and Dice interview concerning the convergence of data know-how (IT) and operational know-how (OT). Dr. Löser shared particulars concerning the firm’s progressive plans to virtualize key manufacturing belongings with the objective 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 business leaders from auto, renewable power, prescription drugs, meals and beverage, heavy business, and so forth. 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 rising ranges of digitization, enhancing safety, and deploying wired and wi-fi networks in new and current vegetation and manufacturing traces. Many discussions centered on finest drive IT/OT convergence, particularly pushed by instruments like Cisco Catalyst Middle (previously generally known as Cisco DNA Middle). Attendees additionally mentioned efforts to spice up visibility and cybersecurity. And we heard concerning the push to improve networking in current vegetation and spend money on wi-fi networks for automated guided autos (AGVs) and different cellular belongings.
Having mulled over what I heard at Cisco Dwell US, I’ve landed on these 5 takeaways.
Takeaway #1: Manufacturing is heading in the direction of a know-how paradigm shift
As producers improve digitization on manufacturing facility flooring, they will now not look to particular person items of {hardware} for sure options or features. As an alternative, they should spend money on 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 help necessities, and enhance flexibility, Audi is growing 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 important upkeep complications and scale back capital outlays. They will 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 potential, with Roland Wagner – who leads Product Advertising and marketing at Codesys – demonstrating the readiness of the digital PLC dwell.
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 sort of baseline visibility. Additionally they want to determine entry insurance policies to section their community to allow them to extra exactly management community exercise and forestall malware unfold.
We regularly take into consideration cybersecurity when it comes to prevention and protection. Curiously, one producer shared how its cybersecurity investments produced a tangible return. This firm used Cisco networking and safety know-how to handle insurance-company inquiries into cybersecurity inside its manufacturing setting. 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. With regards to 5G and personal 5G, although, there appears to be a number of urge for food however few, if any, real-world deployments. Evidently by combining different wi-fi options – particularly WiFi and Cisco Extremely-Dependable Wi-fi Backhaul – corporations can help lots of their enterprise wants and use instances, particularly round cellular belongings, reminiscent of Automated Information Automobiles and AMRs that require dependable wi-fi connectivity.
Takeaway #4: Collaboration is crucial to success
Cisco IoT has lengthy advocated for stronger IT-OT partnerships. In the course of the summit, it was fascinating to listen to that almost each buyer reiterated the significance of IT-OT collaboration in powering the success of producing digitization initiatives. A lot of the attending corporations and audio system had OT involvement exhibiting the pattern in the 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 each one automotive producers are going through some frequent issues – and a recognition that it’s going to take an ecosystem (that features rivals) response to unravel them. By the best way, I don’t assume automotive is the one manufacturing section the place this sort of collaboration shall be very important!
Takeaway #5: Options should be easy, scalable, and straightforward to make use of
The summit affirmed that the manufacturing business has made important progress in digitization. Firms now wish to take the subsequent steps towards cloud, virtualization, and superior safety – the capabilities that Cisco can allow with our scalable, resilient, and safe industrial networking. I noticed important curiosity in a number of of our options, together with Safe Tools Entry and the just lately introduced SKUs throughout the Cisco Catalyst IE9300 Rugged Collection 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 here are some methods you may have interaction with Cisco and find out about our options:
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