Manufacturing powered by modern IT and network tech

Digital transformation in the manufacturing industry enables more efficient, secure, and innovative operations. Modern technology can significantly help manufacturers in South Africa in various ways.

1. Edge Computing: Edge computing can potentially transform the manufacturing sector by digitalising and integrating many aspects of the manufacturing process, including design, supply chain, and operations, especially with the proliferation of industry 4.0 practice.?It enables devices and systems to operate faster and more efficiently by reducing the latency and bandwidth demands associated with transmitting data to a central location for processing.
2. Digital Technology: In South Africa, modern businesses are increasingly making the most of digital technology to improve processes and deliver better results.?Whether it’s achieving marketing goals, improving production, or simply delivering better customer service, digital technology can have a major impact.?Digitalising payroll, time/attendance, and onboarding streamlines operations and improves employee experiences.
3. Hybrid Cloud: mixed computing environment where applications run using a combination of computing, storage, and services in different environments—public clouds, private clouds, and on-premises data centers. For manufacturers, hybrid cloud solutions can enhance flexibility and scalability, improve operational efficiency, ensure regulatory compliance, and accelerate innovation and agility.
4. Clean Technology: Many businesses and households in South Africa have adopted alternative energy in response to the energy crisis.?The top cleantech trends include rechargeable batteries, electric vehicles and motors, solar panel development, biofuel-powered turbo generators, and waste management technologies.
5. Emerging Trends: Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR)?are transforming collaboration by making meetings more engaging and effective for shared goals. Workspace Planning,?Cooperative Project Management, and?Immersive Telepresence?are also gaining traction in the manufacturing sector.
6. AI-Assisted Work: Artificial Intelligence (AI)?is rapidly evolving, and employees are becoming more comfortable with its use. In 2024, organisations are implementing AI to enhance efficiency and productivity. Engaged employees are more open to working alongside AI, especially for menial tasks like writing and internal queries. However, for personal and subjective aspects (such as performance appraisals and job interviews), employees still prefer human interaction.
7. Secure Access Service Edge (SASE): SASE is a network architecture that combines WAN capabilities with cloud-native security functions. For manufacturers, SASE can improve the connectivity of facilities and offices spread across different geographic locations. By utilising SD-WAN capabilities, manufacturers can optimise network traffic, reduce latency, and enhance communication between various production sites and headquarters
8. Autonomous Operations: Especially as transformative technologies such as AI and machine learning enter the manufacturing space, autonomous operations is required for the networking and security infrastructure layers. This enables scalability across the number of devices, predictive maintenance and real-time insights.

Before we deep-dive on some these trends, let's consider some of the risks and issues facing CIOs before OT implementation.

Issues facing CIOs in digitalising manufacturing

Transformative technologies present several challenges to IT and network managers in manufacturing:

1. Scaling Digital Transformations: Many manufacturers struggle to scale their digital transformations across their networks. They often find it difficult to capture the full potential of their transformation efforts or deliver a satisfactory return on investment.
2. IT-OT Convergence: IT encompasses software, hardware, and communication technologies for information processing. OT, on the other hand, involves hardware and software that directly monitor and control industrial equipment, processes, and events. These systems generate data that can be processed and transmitted via communication channels to effect changes in the physical environment. Convergence enables seamless communication between previously separate IT and OT systems, fostering efficiency and innovation. Manufacturers are leveraging IT-OT convergence, enhancing security, adopting edge technologies, and embracing data-driven approaches to accelerate their OT strategies.
3. Departmental Silos: Efforts to implement digital transformation are being adopted enterprise-wide to start breaking down departmental silos. However, many enterprises are struggling to move forward with new, philosophy-driven initiatives. Successful hybrid cloud adoption requires collaboration between networking, cloud operations, and DevOps teams. Organisations are instituting cross-organisational teams and central CloudOps and NetOps functions to ensure their hybrid cloud strategy aligns with business objectives.
4. Edge and cloud computing security focus: As cloud environments become more complex, companies are prioritising security to prevent data breaches and leaks. Sophisticated threats demand robust cloud security measures to ensure secure access and protect sensitive information. The convergence of IT and OT, legacy infrastructure, cyber skills gaps, physical security concerns, and budget constraints pose significant cybersecurity risks.
5. Legacy manufacturing systems were not designed to defend against modern-day cyber attacks. Their legacy architecture makes it difficult to remain current on software patches and fixes, exposing them to increased risk of security breaches.
6. Resilience, Sustainability, and Human-Centricity: The functions required of digital transformation are not limited to traditional forms of value creation, such as improving production efficiency and providing new value and customer experience, but also extend to the realisation of resilience, sustainability, and human-centricity for society overall.
7. Network Modernisation: The need to modernise their network architecture is a significant driver for manufacturers. Edge computing processes, analyses, and stores application data and services at a network’s edge, which requires more efficient, pervasive radio technology to reduce the distance to end users and IoT endpoints.
8. Budget Constraints: Budget constraints can limit the ability of manufacturers to invest in new technologies and training.

These challenges require strategic planning, investment, and a commitment to continuous learning and adaptation.

Edge Computing

Edge computing offers several benefits to manufacturers:

• Real-Time Data Processing: Edge computing enables real-time data processing, which is incredibly valuable in time-sensitive scenarios. This allows for faster analysis and correction, reducing downtime, and improving overall product quality. In manufacturing, edge computing allows automation across factory floor and supply chain processes through advanced robotics and machine-to-machine communication. This results in faster analysis and correction, improving overall product quality.
• Predictive Maintenance: The ability for machines to analyse the data they produce allows for the integration of preventive maintenance business models in manufacturing. This drastically reduces the possibility of unplanned machine downtime.
• Energy Efficiency Management: With edge computing, the consumption capacity of individual manufacturing equipment can be analysed in real-time, providing a foundation for more efficient energy management policies.
• Data-Driven Inventory Optimisation: Edge computing makes access to data from individual components in a machine assembly possible. This introduces a preemptive approach to part replacement and provides guidance when stocking replacement part inventories.
• Developing New Business Models: Edge computing drives the development of new business models that revolve around the use of data to enhance manufacturing processes.
• Higher Efficiency: Edge computing increases efficiency by allowing for real-time analytics, improved reliability, and cost savings.
• Increased Security: Edge computing enhances security by processing data locally, minimising disruptions, and reducing the risk of data breaches.
• Better Scalability: Edge computing boosts scalability by allowing manufacturers to expand their operations without significant increases in data management complexity or network usage.
• Flexibility: Edge computing provides flexibility by enabling manufacturers to make strategic decisions about what should run in a warehouse or on an assembly line, and what should run in a centralised cloud or data center.

These benefits make edge computing an attractive option for manufacturers looking to optimise their operations and stay competitive in the market.

Secure Access Service Edge (SASE)

• Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) is a network architecture that combines WAN capabilities with cloud-native security functions. Manufacturers use SASE to curb edge cyberattacks for several reasons:
• Reduced Risk of Cybersecurity Breaches: SASE allows manufacturers to reduce the risk of cybersecurity breaches while delivering reliable, low latency, global access to applications and systems.
• Single Network Architecture: SASE provides a single network architecture that brings the network and security closer together, allowing for broader, more centralised visibility across an edge network attack surface.
• Addressing Legacy System Vulnerabilities: Legacy manufacturing systems were not designed to defend against modern-day cyber attacks. Their legacy architecture makes it difficult to remain current on software patches and fixes, exposing them to increased risk of security breaches.
• Flexible, Scalable, and Reliable Architectures: Manufacturers require a flexible, scalable, and reliable architecture that can easily and cost-effectively scale as the business grows.
• Improved Cloud Performance: SASE makes connecting directly to 3rd party SaaS applications possible, which is not feasible with traditional MPLS technology.
• Simplified Tool Management: Maintaining and monitoring multiple MPLS connections, telecom vendors, and legacy tools is extremely complicated. SASE simplifies this process.
• Global Connectivity: Most manufacturers have global operations, with their HQ, production, engineering, suppliers, and sales dispersed across the globe. SASE provides secure, high-performance local, remote, and global access.

These benefits make SASE an attractive option for manufacturers looking to enhance their cybersecurity measures and optimise their operations.

Autonomous Operations

Manufacturers prefer autonomous operations for their edge networks due to several key benefits:

• Scalable Automation: Autonomous networks enable scalable automation, adding real-time intelligence to industrial processes. This ensures manufacturing quality, speed, and efficiency without the need for much manual and human management.
• Improved Efficiency: Autonomous networks have led to a 20% improvement in operational efficiency and an 18% reduction in network operation expenditure.
• Predictive Maintenance: By increasing the use of IoT devices and sensors, manufacturers can gain greater visibility and control over production processes. This enables predictive maintenance, which can prevent equipment failure and reduce downtime.
• Optimised Production Scheduling and Resource Allocation: Autonomous networks allow for the optimisation of production scheduling and resource allocation, leading to increased productivity.
• Data Privacy, Security, and Processing Efficiency: Edge computing processes data at or near the point of origin/consumption rather than in a central location. This can help reduce latency, improve speed, and enhance data privacy and security.
• Real-Time Insights: The integration of IoT sensors into the workflow provides real-time insights for improved efficiency.

These benefits make autonomous operations an attractive option for manufacturers looking to optimise their edge networks.