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On the factory floor, an entire world of IoT applications is possible

Even though it’s called the Internet of Things, you do not have to use the Internet to get the advantages.

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As computers grow more advanced, we use them in more applications, install them on more devices, and link them together. For IoT usage in food and beverage industry, there are key points to keep in mind, according to John Carnevale, market manager for food and beverage at Rittal.

Because nearly every machine or device is capable of connecting to each other with a chip or sensor, IoT makes it possible to gather data from virtually every part of a plant, office or retail setting. “Companies can employ data both reactively and proactively,” says Carnevale. In addition, FDA now requires at least two years’ worth of data from food and beverage companies under FSMA.

Many processors use IoT for collecting the data FDA and FSMA require and stop there. However, there is far more potential. “Imagine if a company could keep track, in real-time, of operations, from the farm, in transport to the factory, on the plant floor, in transport to retail establishments, on retail shelves, and who ultimately purchases the finished product,” says Carnevale. “Farmers have the capability of providing data on growing conditions, crop yields, harvesting time, holding time and labor required. Transport trucks could be tracked real time to ensure quick delivery, proper shipping conditions such as temperature and humidity levels, road safety and many other conditions.”

On the factory floor, an entire world of applications for IoT is possible. It allows companies to know how long a product spent in warehousing, preparation, cooking or other processing, in machinery, packaging, quality control etc. “Every part of your company’s process, every single room, machine and worker could constantly update data on what they are doing and how they are doing it,” he states.

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