The Benefits of Using Applications in Remote Industrial Settings
In any enterprise or manufacturing organization, efficiency and accuracy are top priorities. It becomes more challenging to stay on top of production errors and equipment failures when businesses have remote locations. Remote industrial settings may make sense from a cost standpoint, but they also present unique efficiency, safety, and productivity challenges.
Fortunately, there are numerous high-quality remote monitoring applications available today. These systems provide real-time views into maintenance, safety, and production issues, helping managers stay on top of remote industrial sites. Without these applications, remote industrial settings might not be feasible or cost-effective, as they rely on a variety of modern RF and network technology.
Examples of Applications Used in Remote Industrial Settings
A wide variety of monitoring applications are used in remote industrial settings, with many tailored for specific environments. At a high level, many of these systems fall under the general category of IoT (Internet of Things) devices. IoT sensors come in various shapes and forms, all capable of collecting data on equipment performance, environmental conditions at the remote site, and other valuable information.
Condition monitoring applications are specialized tools and systems that gather data from industrial equipment. They allow organizations to monitor equipment performance and health in real-time, detect anomalies, and provide alerts. SCADA (Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition) systems, commonly used in the utilities industry, are a specific example.
GPS-based asset tracking applications provide constant location information for equipment, vehicles, and other assets used at remote industrial sites. Remote video cameras add visual monitoring to remote sites, while IP cameras enable the transmission and reception of data based on image data.
Improving Efficiency and Productivity in Remote Settings
A combination of one or more of these monitoring applications can effectively enhance productivity and efficiency in remote settings. Depending on the specific features offered, these tools inform organizations of impending issues or even enable remote operations. The data provided by remote applications allows companies to reduce costs, improve employee safety, and enhance overall efficiency.
IoT sensors and condition monitoring applications provide real-time predictive maintenance data. Analyzing this information helps in scheduling maintenance windows and minimizing equipment downtime. The same data analytics can be used to establish continuous improvement processes, ensuring that remote sites always operate at peak efficiency.
Energy consumption monitoring offers a comprehensive view of how devices and people utilize electrical resources. A careful analysis of consumption data reveals ways to use energy resources more efficiently and cost-effectively.
Challenges When Implementing Remote Monitoring
While remote monitoring applications offer many benefits, they also come with implementation challenges. Regardless of the apps and systems in use, connectivity can be a significant concern for remote industrial sites. Internet connectivity is often a challenge, especially in rural and remote locations. Similarly, cellular networks used for data transmission may perform poorly in remote locations.
At the remote site itself, signal interference and other common RF issues can disrupt communication. WiFi signals and IoT sensor communications are not always reliable. In particular, IoT devices often depend on Bluetooth and other short-range technologies, which can lead to signal drop-outs and other connectivity issues.
Integrating equipment from various manufacturers can be difficult, as with any technology implementation. Existing equipment and systems may use older hardware and communication protocols that are incompatible with newer systems. This and other integration issues can make scalability challenging as a company grows.
In addition, data security is rarely a straightforward issue. While protecting sensitive manufacturing and industrial data is necessary, there is a balance between security and accessibility. Increased accessibility often leads to decreased security and vice versa.
Implementation Best Practices for Remote Industrial Settings
Successful implementations of applications in remote industrial settings can be achieved by considering all the benefits and challenges involved. Before delving into addressing the issues, clearly define project goals.
If the primary goal, for example, is to collect and monitor production equipment data, stay focused on the specific tools needed and the challenges that need to be overcome to achieve that goal.
Once the implementation project is well-defined and in focus, evaluate the compatibility of available equipment and applications. Putting thought and effort into compatibility ahead of time can save significant hassle in the future. Consider existing infrastructure and its requirements, as well as the data security issues and decide how to handle them in advance. Trade-offs between security and accessibility may need to be made.
As you proceed with the implementation of remote applications, ensure employees receive adequate training. When all employees know how to use the applications and understand the benefits, the implementation is more likely to be successful.
Successful application implementations in remote industrial settings
Following these best practices, several industries have successfully implemented valuable applications for their remote industrial sites. For instance, many companies within the oil and gas industry now benefit from predictive maintenance data, thanks to IoT sensors and remote applications.
Agriculture is another industry that has significantly improved efficiency and productivity thanks to remote monitoring applications. With the right remote equipment, farmers realize improvements in water usage and crop yield.
Future Trends and Advancements for Remote Industrial Monitoring
As more industries succeed with remote industrial monitoring, technology companies continue to make advancements for the next generation of applications. Some of the future trends you can expect include:
- Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) enhancing predictive maintenance and data analytics.
- 5G and other high-speed networks enabling faster and more reliable data transmission for remote sites.
- Edge computing techniques reducing network latency, improving data transmission rates, and allowing faster data analysis.
- Augmented reality and virtual reality technologies aiding remote operations and troubleshooting.
Some of these trends may sound like they belong to the distant future, but AI and 5G are already making their way into remote industrial site applications. The pace of technological advancements shows no signs of slowing down. When considering remote industrial application needs, partnering with an experienced company with a perspective on RF technology is crucial.
TX RX has been the leader in optimizing RF communications for over four decades. To see how our team of experienced engineers can assist with your remote monitoring solutions, contact us today to schedule a product demo.