Hybrid cloud-edge strategy for smart manufacturing

August 6, 2019 5:15 pm

The cloud plays a huge role in Industry 4.0, especially in the areas of data processing and storage, quality control and manufacturing execution systems. Industry watcher Gartner, expects the worldwide public cloud service market to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 12.6 per cent by 2022, hitting $331.2 billion. Business Intelligence, supply chain management and enterprise resource planning–all applications manufacturers rely on–will see the highest spend on software-as-a-service (SaaS), Gartner predicts.

Cloud-based solutions provide cost-effective data storage and data security to the manufacturers, as well as services such as enhanced analytics, machine learning, insights around operational efficiency, and more. However, the manufacturers now, are keen to influence the power of the cloud to support their digital transformation.

However, while cloud computing brings many benefits, manufacturers should be aware of the potential risks that come with a cloud strategy. Relying on cloud-based solutions for mission-critical activities within the factory, leaves the operation vulnerable if the Internet fails. In short, Internet connectivity is something outside the manufacturer’s control and could potentially jeopardise their entire operations.

Of course, this is not just a concern for organisations that operate in areas at high risk of natural disaster and Internet outage. Any location can be hit by Internet Service Provider (ISP) issues and manufacturers should plan according in order to protect their operations until access to the cloud is restored.