Boost productivity and sustainability with shop floor integration

In most organizations, operational technology OT and information technology IT are completely disconnected from each other in terms of architecture, technology and responsibilities. Only a third of manufacturers claim their IT and OT are wholly integrated, according to recent studies It turns out some large, but not insurmountable, challenges are holding them back.

Security concerns, diverging priorities or requirements, a mix of new and older machinery, and a lack of personnel expertise all rank as the top reasons IT/OT integration hasn’t already happened. Despite these hurdles, there is a way to close the integration gap.

The convergence of IT and OT

Small and medium-sized manufacturers face deadlines, quality metrics and other output KPIs that hold them accountable for everything in operations. To maximize throughput with the highest quality while steadily accelerating the introduction of new products, companies need easy access to real-time data that’s only possible with effective shop floor data integration. Manufacturing companies have traditionally kept their technological tools separate. Information technology (IT) systems are used for data-centric computing, mostly on the business side. And operational technology (OT) systems monitor events, processes and devices on the shop floor.

Change brings new opportunities for improvement

The current trends shaping the manufacturing industry create new opportunities for IT/OT integration to deliver diverse, scalable benefits. Combining the best of IT and OT helps manufacturers get the most out of their organization. IT/OT integration improves connectivity and makes manufacturing data more accessible. By leveraging the data, manufacturers can move faster, reduce carbon emissions, improve quality, become more flexible and maximize operations efficiency.

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