Manufacturing and technology experts have been predicting for years that wireless applications will revolutionize the manufacturing industry. But with a couple of notable exceptions, the revolution appears to be proceeding at the snail-like pace of a dial-up Internet connection.
Wireless technology developers continue to devise ever-more-sophisticated applications. But manufacturers are still put off by cost and security concerns. In addition, while developers race to add functionality to wireless equipment, they often overlook the need for supporting platforms that will allow this equipment to interact effortlessly with existing manufacturing technologies. Nevertheless, wireless technology is worth considering today.
Implementation costs a concern
Although it can provide considerable savings on cables, wiring and installation time, going wireless still involves significant up-front costs — regardless of whether you are building a new plant or updating an existing facility.
But for some companies, the operating efficiency of wireless technology outweighs the cost. For example, Pitney Bowes, the equipment manufacturer, invested a reported $20 million in wireless technology to connect 2,200 field service representatives with 1,000 call center agents.
Process applications lagging
Applications that connect workers in the field with office-based staff or that boost efficiency and customer satisfaction are examples of the wireless technology taking hold among manufacturers who are eager to enhance far-flung field representatives’ customer relationship management (CRM) capabilities. But in some ways they are akin to advanced e-mail: They are being used as a communication tool, not for manufacturing processes.
An exception is radio frequency identification (RFID), which manufacturers are using to track products around the factory floor and into the supply chain. At its most basic, RFID is passive and costs little to implement and operate, but it is more efficient and effective than traditional bar coding in helping to ensure that products don’t get diverted from distribution channels.
Security questions abound
Another significant concern among manufacturers is security. You may be reluctant to replace secure wired systems with potentially insecure wireless operations. Recently, substantial improvements in wireless security have begun to allay such concerns with better encryption and strong user authentication.
Is wireless on the brink of acceptance?
Those who predict that wireless technology will one day rule the manufacturing world are probably right, particularly as local area networks converge with wide area networks to give companies connectivity in the plant, the storage yard and beyond.
And though observers say it’s inevitable that wireless technology will eventually handle everything in a factory, from data collection to extremely critical control functions such as maintenance monitoring, questions about cost and security remain. But as the move toward wireless continues, the last question manufacturers have may be: “What took us so long?”
