Real-Time data is the first step to transforming your logistics operations with IoT-enabled smart maintenance. Here’s why.
Understanding IoT Fundamentals
There’s no magic behind the IoT or complex concepts that can’t be explained to a fifth grader. Simply put, when you connect an asset to the Internet you can monitor where it’s at and what it’s doing in real-time. The IoT is part art and part science. The art of IoT is using real-time data to digitize key business metrics that can be visualized using maps, reports, and dashboards. The science of IoT is knowing what data to analyze and discovering patterns that can help you to correct or prevent problems efficiently quick.
The Art and Science of Asset Intelligence
The convergence of IoT art and science produces asset intelligence. Real-time data isn’t a complete IoT solution. It’s a diving board that can spring you into a valuable pool of data. And once you’re fully immersed, you’ll see exactly why so many maintenance professionals use IoT-enabled asset intelligence to improve preventive maintenance (PM) processes. But first, you’ll need a swim lesson, so to speak.
Building a Smart Maintenance Strategy
Enterprise asset management (EAM) software is the core of any IoT strategy aimed at reducing maintenance costs, automating PM schedules, increasing asset uptime and reliability, and streamlining workflows with enhanced efficiency. Automation precedes optimization in the dictionary, and the IoT should follow suit. So, before you think about parachuting into EAM or field service mobility, you should consider walking through IoT’s front door – telematics. The right telematics solution will generate streaming utilization and diagnostics data for the vehicle it’s connected to. This data will unlock insight that can easily be converted into actionable intelligence for your logistics company.
Real-World Application: Tire Maintenance
Take, tire service and replacement, for example. One way to keep your trucks on the road with properly treaded tires is to follow the manufacturer’s recommendations for maintenance at regular service intervals. However, this approach doesn’t account for where, when, or how often tires are being used. Another option is to manually inspect the tread and inflation pressure of each tire. While the latter is time-consuming and may work well for trucks in the yard, it can be problematic for vehicles offsite or on the road.
Outfitting your trucks with a telematics device is a key to smart maintenance because it delivers real-time location, utilization, and diagnostic information that can be augmented with other data sources (e.g. manufacturer information, GIS, weather). Maintenance costs will decrease when you know where, when, and how your assets are being used. With this 360° view you’ll have a better grip on tire service and replacement, setting you on a path towards making maintenance decisions based on tire age, driver behavior, hours in use, miles driven, and environmental conditions.
Progressing from Automation to Optimization
It's advantageous to automate before optimizing maintenance processes. This progression typically starts with telematics integration, moves to field service mobility, and culminates in Enterprise Asset Management (EAM). Integrating telematics into maintenance processes creates a foundation for extending into field service mobility, which then optimizes work order processes. A comprehensive and flexible EAM solution serves as the capstone, bringing all elements together. The journey focuses first on equipment optimization, which naturally leads to bottom-line improvements.
As IoT technology continues to evolve, starting with real-time data collection remains the crucial first step toward smarter maintenance operations. By building on this foundation, organizations can progressively transform their maintenance processes from reactive to predictive, ultimately achieving the full potential of IoT-enabled asset intelligence.
