ADVANCED MATERIALS & PROCESSES | NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2024 24 Test equipment manufacturers continue to embed Internet of Things (IoT) technology into pro- ducts to help labs optimize their operations through digitization. One capability that arises from IoT integration is remote equipment monitoring. This article details five tangible features that have emerged related to remote monitoring of laboratory test equipment. REMOTE MONITORING Devices with IoT monitoring such as home security cameras, baby monitors, programmable thermostats, and wearables that track physiology are increasingly common among consumers. This phenomenon is not unique to the consumer market. Nowadays, TECHNICAL SPOTLIGHT FIVE KEY BENEFITS OF REMOTE MONITORING FOR LABORATORY TEST EQUIPMENT Learn how advanced technology and digitization has enabled new remote monitoring features that can increase the efficiency of any testing lab. 2032, growing nearly 15% annually over the period[1]. EVALUATING FEATURES But like consumers, manufacturers need to be thoughtful about how access to new data and monitoring capabilities will benefit them and how it will be used in practice. Without end-to-end implementation planning, companies wind up overwhelmed and unable to realize the benefits they were promised. Before investing, manufacturers must think critically about what is useful, what is wasteful, and where to start. The answers are not universal; different companies will come to different conclusions given the nature of their industry, clients, and existing operations. To evaluate helpful versus wasteful bells and whistles, identify the use cases and value propositions that are most impactful to operational priorities. While certain features seem appealing, do not be afraid to set them aside if they are not aligned with core priorities. First, implement the IoT tools with the greatest impact, then incrementally build an IoT toolbox. Equipment vendors should encourage this approach because it produces the best long-term outcome for their customers. Vendors do a disservice if they throw around buzzwords like “big data,” “machine learning,” and “artificial intelligence” without providing practical use cases and implementation strategies for your team. machines that manufacturers rely on to make their products are equipped with sensors, networking capabilities, and software to enhance awareness of things businesses value: utilization, security, and other operational priorities. Tasks that once required a person to physically observe a machine can now be managed remotely or are automated. With proven benefits and the continuous pressure to improve, manufacturers view investment in IoT technology not only as a safe bet, but also as a necessary one. This is supported by a consensus among market reports, which forecast global smart manufacturing spending to increase from roughly $300 billion in 2023 to $1 trillion in IoT-enabled production laboratory.
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