IDC survey finds manufacturers embrace edge computing for security, compliance reasons
According to IDC Research survey data sponsored by Lumen Technologies, manufacturers are undergoing fast, disruptive changes in their operations as they automate facilities with IoT, smart sensors, AI and robotics.
Specifically, 74% of operational data will be acquired, analyzed, and acted on within the factory as edge computing approaches put data processing and storage closer to the network edge where people, processes and items in motion reside. Edge computing also plays a critical role in improving process efficiency as it is essential to connecting operational data and assets and complements both cloud computing and the IoT.
“In manufacturing, a company cannot have a cloud strategy without an edge strategy,” notes Jonathan Lang, Research Manager, Worldwide IT/OT Convergence Strategies, IDC. “Edge computing can address the latency, reliability, and security requirements of industrial operations while opening the world of possibilities that remote connectivity offers. Edge computing use cases can increase Industry 4.0 maturity and support the resilient decision-making necessary to thrive in today’s markets.”
With edge computing, manufacturers can monitor overall equipment effectiveness across the factory floor through IoT and smart sensors and use predictive maintenance tools to detect and fix potential problems before they happen. Edge computing can also enable real-time asset tracking and increased visibility across the supply chain, analytics driven procurement, and real-time inventory management for an efficient and transparent value chain.
The industrial environment is changing faster than ever, and manufacturing resiliency relies on data for rapid and effective decisions. Edge computing will play an important role in any manufacturer’s connectivity strategy in part to manage essential data.
Article Topics
compliance | edge computing | IDC | Industry 4.0 | Lumen | market research | predictive maintenance | security | smart factory
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