A framework for implementation of real-time monitoring through IIoT

Abstract: In the global and dynamic business environment of today, Industry 4.0 and the development of digital networking and real-time connection are pushing manufacturing companies to introduce new technologies into their manufacturing processes. IIoT is seen as a key element of Industry 4.0 that enable the virtualization of manufacturing processes that can ensure smooth operations across the supply chain through real-time information collection. While researchers and practitioners alike agree that there are potential advantages of implementing real-time monitoring through IIoT they also uphold that there are critical challenges for adoption. Research shows that few companies have developed the structured strategies necessary to attain a consistent competitive advantage while implementing IIoT into their manufacturing processes. A large reason contributing to this is that there is no established industry standard for how to ensure interoperability, i.e the ability of different computerized products or systems to connect and exchange information with one another. To bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge of IIoT and the practical challenges of its implementation in a manufacturing process, the purpose of the study is to present a framework of the potential challenges and enablers of implementing IIoT for real-time monitoring. To meet the purpose of this study a multiple case study was performed at Volvo Construction Equipment sites in different stages of IIoT implementation. As a result, four categories related to potential challengers and enablers of implementing IIoT for real-time monitoring were identified. These categories were: external environments, IT infrastructure, technology, and human factors. Four project phases of implementing an IIoT platform were also identified, which lays the foundation for the proposed framework. The framework provides a general understanding of how manufacturing companies can implement IIoT to achieve real-time monitoring in practice by highlighting potential challenges and enablers in each project phase. Contributing to current research, this thesis considers the holistic perspective of the research area, i.e a combination of both technical and social aspects, where the resulting framework provides guidance on how to implement IIoT for real-time monitoring. Future research may include confirmation of the framework in practice and performing a quantitative case study to achieve generalized results.