Mobile technology can make work in the field more efficient, but using it in process industries is not always straightforward. Hazardous areas, limited connectivity, cybersecurity requirements, and regulatory demands all affect how mobile solutions can be used in industrial environments.
Making mobile technology work in practice requires more than choosing the right devices. Mobile solutions also need to fit into existing calibration and maintenance processes. This could mean receiving work orders from back-office systems, identifying instruments using QR codes, capturing information in the field, or continuing to work when connectivity is unavailable.
In this episode of the PII Podcast, Sami Koskinen, Director of Digital Transformation at Beamex, discusses how mobile solutions in process industries are evolving and what organizations need to consider when introducing mobile technology in demanding operational environments.
Listen to the podcast:
You can also find this podcast on the Process Industry Informer website
What do successful mobile solutions in process industries require?
Successful implementation starts with understanding the practical realities of the industrial environment. Mobile solutions may need to operate in hazardous areas, work with limited or no network connectivity, and meet cybersecurity and regulatory requirements.
These practical considerations are only part of the picture. Introducing mobile technology is not just a technology decision. Organizations also need to understand where mobility can improve existing processes and whether the investment delivers real value. In the podcast, Sami emphasizes the importance of starting with the business case rather than adopting new technology simply for the sake of digitalization.
Another important consideration is the need to look critically at existing processes rather than starting with the technology itself. Where are the real opportunities for improvement? What has changed since those processes were originally designed? Asking these questions can help organizations build a mobile strategy around operational needs.
The episode also explores why organizations should consider calibration and maintenance early when designing new facilities and processes. It looks at the growing importance of cooperation between IT and operational teams as information technology and operational technology become more closely connected.
Topics covered include:
- The challenges of adopting mobile technology in industrial environments
- How mobile technology can support calibration and maintenance activities in the field
- Working effectively when real-time connectivity is unavailable
- Building a business case for mobile technology and digitalization
- Planning for calibration and maintenance from the beginning
- Changing calibration requirements and their impact on industrial processes
- Collaboration between IT and operational teams
- Cybersecurity and regulatory requirements
- Building a mobile strategy around real operational needs
Want to learn more about mobile solutions in process industries?
The podcast introduces many of the challenges organizations face when bringing mobile technology into industrial environments. What do those challenges mean in practice, and what should organizations consider when developing a mobile strategy?
In this related article, Sami Koskinen takes a deeper look at the realities of industrial mobility. He explores why mobile solutions may need to work offline in demanding environments, what can happen when calibration and maintenance are not considered early enough, and why cooperation between IT and operational teams is essential. The article also takes a closer look at cybersecurity and compliance, as well as how careful planning can help organizations get more value from mobile technology.
Read: Mobile solutions – Are process industries using them right?
Listen to the podcast:
You can also find this podcast on the Process Industry Informer website
Want to discuss how mobile technology could support your calibration and maintenance processes?
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