Start your journey toward smart machines

By OEM Update Editorial January 10, 2017 3:36 pm IST

Featuring the actions that will help make sure Machine Builders are prepared to deliver on the promise of smart manufacturing

Smart machines and equipment are becoming an increasingly essential component of smart manufacturing. The machine builders see helping their customers implement smart manufacturing as a new revenue stream. A differentiator. A game-changer for customers. And, critically, a way to stay ahead of competitors.

What they often don’t know is how to get started.
The truth is – there is not a universal path. Each Machine Builder will have a different path and ultimately offer different smart machines based on a number of factors, including their global footprint, any service and support models, and intellectual property and technologies. However, there are common factors Machine Builder should consider when starting to build smart machines.

Machine Builders must first develop a deep understanding of their customers’ businesses and goals, as well as how each organisation’s ambitions compare with where they are today. Only then will Machine Builders be ready to equip their customers with smart machines and equipment, regardless of needs or where customers are on their journey to The Connected Enterprise.

With these customer insights, Machine Builders can focus their attention inward. Taking the following actions will help make sure they are prepared to deliver on the promise of smart manufacturing and industrial operations.

Establish a vision for manufacturing smart machines. Many Machine Builders find it helpful to bring in an external customer advisory board or interview their aftermarket service team to identify the business opportunities for building smart machines. They can also discuss with their sales force the data that would be game-changing for customers. Whatever resources are needed, this is a vital first step.

Identify opportunities to innovate with the potential of differentiating by creating new market models. This may mean transforming from a traditional equipment-selling model to a service-based or even performance-based model. For example, some Machine Builders are contextualising existing performance data from their machines to provide reports to their customers on how operators can run their machine more efficiently.

(Article contributed by Rockwell Automation)