Factory Wireless

From IoT to security to modernizing the plant floor and increasing support for business applications, manufacturing CIO’s have a lot coming at them. The enterprise is extending, and barriers that were once clearly defined as operation technology (OT) and information technology (IT) are increasingly…

We live in a wireless world. We almost never plug our computers into a network. Our mobile phones and tablets provide constant connectivity. Some of us wear health tracking devices like Apple Watches, Fitbits, and Garmins. These devices count our steps, measure our heart rates, and log the number of…

Cisco Live just wrapped this week, and we had a lot of great conversations with customers who are looking to evolve their manufacturing operations and achieve an “ultimate state.” Many of these conversations revolved around how to improve their factory network and reduce downtime, taking…

The month of April is a busy month for manufacturing. In Europe, the annual Hannover Messe event kicks off in a few weeks and is one of the largest international events focused on industrial technology. If you would like to read more on Hannover Messe and Cisco’s participation, my colleague Scot Wlo…

The month of March ushers in warmer temperature as Spring weather begins to emerge. College basketball season kicks into high gear with March Madness and St. Patrick’s day turns everyone Irish for a day. The month of March also brings the Cisco Connect events to the Midwest and this year inclu…

Manufacturers use wireless to increase margins, reduce cycle times, enable lean, and improve equipment productivity. While pervasive wireless connects sensors, tools, robots, AGVs, and RFID devices, it also enables mobility. Mobility supports far more than just cell phones, tablets, and laptops. Ver…

In your everyday life, it’s hard to miss the impact of wireless. We’re no longer tethered to our desktop computers or corded home phones. Our music now streams wirelessly on our headsets or in our cars. And when you’re looking at wireless platforms, you have lots of options—such as Bluetooth, Wi-Fi,…

Before coming to Cisco, I worked as CTO for an irrigation system manufacturer. We were building a cloud-based commercial irrigation system and we needed an improved ERP system for the back-office transactions. My goal was to move us from the on-premise system that was architected when Ronald Reagan…

Since manufacturers around the globe constantly have to adapt to ever shifting market conditions, any technology that lends a competitive advantage can be a game changer. Implementing wireless on the factory floor can be just that. And our announcement with Rockwell Automation this week at Automatio…