
'Internet Of Things' Drives Technology Convergence Into Connected Enterprise


Jerry Fox, VP, CIO, Rockwell Automation Inc.
Convergence of integrated control and information technologies
We believe we’re at an inflection point, driven by the convergence of integrated control and information technologies, and accelerated by the arrival of the “Internet of Things.” We call this vision ‘The Connected Enterprise’. It involves industrial operations that are more productive, more agile and more sustainable. While manufacturing is sometimes seen as technology laggard, today we see an inrush of technology that’s changing the game, from labor intensity to highly productive production processes; from older industrial-age plants to clean, safe, efficient production facilities; from isolated operations to an integrated, responsive supply chain.
The value at stake is enormous:
• Faster time to market through design productivity, and the agility to respond to customer trends more quickly.
• Improved asset utilization and optimization by manufacturing intelligence tools, driving improved reliability, and predictive maintenance.
• Lower total cost of ownership by easier technology migration.
• Enterprise risk management: protecting company intellectual property and brand image with a safe, secure operating environment.
“Manufacturing must accelerate the adoption of key Internet of Things technologies–the cloud, mobility and Big Data”
Adoption of Internet of Things
Similarly, we see our biggest challenge as an opportunity presented by the Internet of Things. Cisco estimates that the Internet of Things as having a potential value of $14 trillion, and that 27 percent, or nearly $4 trillion, will be found in manufacturing. This is by far the biggest opportunity across the entire Internet of Things landscape. To capture this value, manufacturing must accelerate the adoption of key Internet of Things technologies – the cloud, mobility, and Big Data.
Reduction in time and cost will help
Overcome challenges How will we and our customers take advantage of one of the greatest opportunities in our lifetime? From a manufacturing perspective, the next wave of investment will be at the plant infrastructure layer, using technologies like integrated control and information and the Internet of Things to deliver business value from The Connected Enterprise.
My role as a CIO
CIOs today must understand the business and know how to leverage technology to add value to the business. It’s not as much about rolling out systems and supporting infrastructure as it is about identifying value and driving opportunities that make an impact on the company and its stakeholders. Today, IT acts as an integrator between business process, information and technology. I emphasize three things our team should do well to add value across the enterprise:
1. Understand our businesses and the day-to-day processes executed to deliver value to customers and shareholders.
2. Understand the information produced inside our business and consumed by our business, and how that information is consumed for intelligent decision making.
3. Understand technology and how technology can be leveraged to optimize this information into intelligence.
ON THE DECK
Featured Vendors
Advanced Material Solutions (AMS): 'Next Level' Flaw Detection with SmartTestâ„¢ Advanced Resonance Inspection
Technology Coast Partners: Helping Latin American Manufacturers in their Digital Transformation Journey
Panasonic Factory Solutions Company of America: Computer-integrated Software to Streamline Manufacturing Processes
NDS Global: Delivers Integrated Enterprise and Digital Solutions for Next Generation Manufacturing C
Reveal: Increasing Investor Confidence and Customer Market Share with People, Processes, and Technol
Panasonic Factory Solutions Company of America Seamlessly Integrating Manufacturing Systems with Pan
Epalign: Committed To Building The Highest Levels Of Performance In Manufacturing Operations Todd An
EDITOR'S PICK
Essential Technology Elements Necessary To Enable...
By Leni Kaufman, VP & CIO, Newport News Shipbuilding
Comparative Data Among Physician Peers
By George Evans, CIO, Singing River Health System
Monitoring Technologies Without Human Intervention
By John Kamin, EVP and CIO, Old National Bancorp
Unlocking the Value of Connected Cars
By Elliot Garbus, VP-IoT Solutions Group & GM-Automotive...
Digital Innovation Giving Rise to New Capabilities
By Gregory Morrison, SVP & CIO, Cox Enterprises
Staying Connected to Organizational Priorities is Vital...
By Alberto Ruocco, CIO, American Electric Power
Comprehensible Distribution of Training and Information...
By Sam Lamonica, CIO & VP Information Systems, Rosendin...
The Current Focus is On Comprehensive Solutions
By Sergey Cherkasov, CIO, PhosAgro
Big Data Analytics and Its Impact on the Supply Chain
By Pascal Becotte, MD-Global Supply Chain Practice for the...
Technology's Impact on Field Services
By Stephen Caulfield, Executive Director, Global Field...
Carmax, the Automobile Business with IT at the Core
By Shamim Mohammad, SVP & CIO, CarMax
The CIO's role in rethinking the scope of EPM for...
By Ronald Seymore, Managing Director, Enterprise Performance...
Driving Insurance Agent Productivity with Mobile and Big...
By Brad Bodell, SVP and CIO, CNO Financial Group, Inc.
Transformative Impact On The IT Landscape
By Jim Whitehurst, CEO, Red Hat
Get Ready for an IT Renaissance: Brought to You by Big...
By Clark Golestani, EVP and CIO, Merck
Four Initiatives Driving ECM Innovation
By Scott Craig, Vice President of Product Marketing, Lexmark...
Technology to Leverage and Enable
By Dave Kipe, SVP, Global Operations, Scholastic Inc.
By Meerah Rajavel, CIO, Forcepoint
AI is the New UI-AI + UX + DesignOps
By Amit Bahree, Executive, Global Technology and Innovation,...
Evolving Role of the CIO - Enabling Business Execution...
By Greg Tacchetti, CIO, State Auto Insurance
Read Also
Hybrid Work Has Forever Changed The Need For It In Ramboll
How T-Mobile brought an Un-carrier approach to tech hiring
Every Changing Labor Force
Great Expectations: Balancing the diverse needs of a city in a...
Community Banks And Digital Banking
"Discovery and Delivery" - An Approach to IT Workload Balance
