As manufacturers cope with a labor shortage and skills gap, they have begun to ask for more services from automation suppliers, including remote support, monitoring and maintenance programs. What was once a system enhancement for a manufacturer’s internal use, industrial internet of things (IIOT) technology is now becoming a requirement for machine builders to provide service and support for their customers.
Brian P. Romano, director of technology development at The Arthur G. Russell Co. Inc. (AGR), has seen this evolution firsthand. When he joined the Bristol, CT, machine builder a decade ago, he was tasked with finding ways to get more data out of an automated assembly system.