Why Manufacturing Needs Edge Computing
Manufacturers must embrace edge computing to keep pace with Industry 4.0. As technology continues to advance, manufacturers need fast, efficient solutions.
Manufacturing is in the middle of a technological revolution. Industry 4.0 — the data-driven fourth industrial revolution — is in full swing, and as manufacturers embrace this change, their requirements are changing as well. The longer these trends continue, the clearer it becomes that the sector needs edge computing.
The manufacturing industry is already a leader in cloud adoption, but cracks are starting to show in the traditional cloud. Production facilities need to take the next step by embracing the edge, and there are five reasons why.
Reliance on robotics is growing
Manufacturing's reliance on automation is one of the biggest factors driving the need for edge computing. Nearly 45% of manufacturing companies say robots are essential to their operations. As labor shortages grow, more facilities will turn to automation to compensate for lost human productivity, so that figure will only climb.
This growing reliance on robotics calls for edge computing, because higher levels of automation often mean lower flexibility. As manufacturers automate more processes, it will become harder to adapt to supply chain disruptions, production errors, or other unexpected changes. Edge computing provides the answer.
With IoT connectivity, robots can detect changes, communicate, and respond, becoming more flexible. But doing this at scale requires very fast, low-latency data transfer and processing, which is difficult with conventional data systems. Edge computing, by contrast, delivers the responsiveness that flexible robotics demands.
IIoT is expanding
Likewise, Industrial IoT (IIoT) adoption is surging. More than 85% of manufacturing companies have implemented IoT systems — the highest adoption rate of any industry. If this trend continues, manufacturers will have enormous volumes of data to manage.
Edge computing distributes data processing across multiple devices, delivering faster insights from this data. And because information has to travel shorter distances in an edge environment, growing IIoT data volumes do not create inefficiencies.
Being able to process IIoT data faster also makes IIoT solutions a more practical option for smaller manufacturers. These companies cannot justify the cost of such systems under conventional, less efficient setups, but with the edge advantage they can maximize their returns.
Digital transformation is essential for manufacturers
Edge computing's ability to make other data-driven technologies more accessible is another reason it matters to the manufacturing industry. Scaling robotics and IIoT systems requires investment in edge computing, and manufacturers that do not invest in this technology will struggle to compete.
As Industry 4.0 grows, manufacturers that do not embrace digital transformation are falling behind competitors that do. Digital-first organizations can deliver lower costs, shorter lead times, fewer errors, and greater supply chain resilience, so digitalization will become the standard. The only way to compete is to join the shift, and edge computing provides the way forward.
The data capacity, speed, and latency of edge computing make it easier to get the most out of robotics, IIoT, and similar technologies. That, in turn, makes it a critical part of joining the digital revolution before manufacturers fall behind.
The traditional cloud is too inefficient
It is important to recognize that edge computing is the best way to meet these requirements. Traditional cloud computing also supports IIoT systems and enables flexible automation, but not to the level manufacturers demand.
Sending data back and forth between remote data centers is too inefficient for manufacturers. Industry 4.0 technologies such as predictive maintenance alerts and collaborative robots need real-time updates, and any delay can seriously disrupt production. These risks only grow as digitalization increases, making the traditional cloud unsuitable for manufacturing.
Edge servers offer latency 10 to 100 milliseconds lower than cloud providers. Manufacturers that host their own edge servers on premises can see even more dramatic improvements. Given that a fraction of a second can make the difference between a collaborative robot colliding with an employee or navigating safely, these advantages are hard to overlook.
Traditional data centers are too vulnerable
Similarly, edge computing offers security advantages over traditional cloud setups. Large industrial networks must continuously monitor their network infrastructure to stay safe, but doing so can create inefficiencies in conventional systems because of the sheer volume of data involved.
Distributing computing workloads across devices makes automated monitoring more feasible. The low latency of the edge also ensures manufacturers can detect and respond to suspicious activity in real time — something a high-latency cloud setup may not support. Edge computing further strengthens security by preventing too much sensitive data from being stored or processed in a single, easily targeted location.
Manufacturing is the most targeted sector for cybercrime, accounting for 24.8% of all cyberattacks in 2022. Given these risks, the security benefits of the edge are critical.
Edge computing will transform manufacturing
The manufacturing sector's data requirements are soaring. As more manufacturers discover this while Industry 4.0 advances, edge computing is an essential step in this transformation.
Manufacturers and their IT partners must recognize that traditional cloud solutions cannot meet the sector's changing needs. Organizations must embrace the edge to achieve secure, efficient, and cost-effective digital transformation.
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