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ROHM SEMICONDUCTOR 2022 5 By utilizing IIoT technology, smart logistics can monitor the 'what,' 'when,' and 'where' of products in real time, minimizing many of these risks. " " WHAT IS INDUSTRIAL IOT? As its name implies, IIoT is IoT specialized for the industrial sector. In a previous blog article (What is IoT?), we introduced ROHM sensors and wireless technologies. Additionally, IIoT can provide alerts on equipment failures and improve production and operating efficiencies by collecting, accumulating, and analyzing data and information from connected devices and equipment. This translates to shorter lead times, lower risks for defective products, improved traceability, and reduced maintenance costs. Now, let's look at some examples. SMART LOGISTICS It often takes considerable time and effort to get manufactured products to the customer. In fact, if the entire distribution process were carried out manually, both the labor costs and possibility of error would increase dramatically. By utilizing IIoT technology, smart logistics can monitor the 'what,' 'when,' and 'where' of products in real time, minimizing many of these risks. As an example, visualizing and streamlining the entire distribution process makes same-day or next-day shipping of products ordered online possible (Figure 1). SMART FACTORIES Up to now, Factory Automation (FA), which automates part of the manufacturing process with machines, has been adopted and contributes to the development of the industry. Adding IIoT promotes further evolution by creating smart factories. Smart factories utilize sensors and wireless communication technologies to visualize and share information on equipment, people, and products in the manufacturing process, as well as AI for managing and simulating this information to optimize production lines (Figure 2). Further improvements in production efficiency are being pursued through 'automation' and 'autonomization' that notifies workers and instructs and controls robots. Figure 2: Smart Factories use a combination of sensors to visualize information, optimize equipment, and automate portions of the manufacturing process. (Source: ROHM)

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