Industrial connectivity: a strategic imperative
For machine builders, it is essential to guarantee the continued performance of equipment deployed around the world. Meanwhile, end users must maintain productivity in their factories despite reduced staffing levels. The rise of what we commonly refer to as Industry 4.0 enables companies to optimize machine management, remotely monitor operations, reduce the risk of failure, and quickly identify root cause—even with limited staffing.
The challenge of holiday downtime in industrial environments
Factories face several operational hurdles when a significant portion of their technicians are on leave:
o Reduced staffing to monitor equipment and respond to breakdowns
o Increased risk of incidents: without continuous onsite monitoring, more failures can occur, potentially leading to costly production downtime.
o Limited maintenance capacity, as scheduling interventions becomes more difficult.
The industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) offers concrete solutions to navigate these challenges and keep operations running smoothly during holiday periods.
Remote monitoring and automatic alerts
An industrial gateway installed on a machine allows performance tracking from a distance. Industrial remote gateways developed by HMS Networks provide a fully secure cloud-based connection. This means there’s no need to be onsite to monitor equipment health. In the event of a malfunction or breakdown, automatic alerts are sent, enabling fast response times.
Predictive maintenance to prevent interruptions
In the industrial world, prevention is just as important as cure. Data collected from your machines can help detect early warning signs of potential failures. Due to limited maintenance capacity, scheduling interventions becomes more difficult, making it crucial to detect issues early so teams can step in before unplanned downtime disrupts production.
Automating processes to offset staffing shortages
Holidays often coincide with slower production periods and lower demand. By facilitating the integration of automated systems, IIoT makes it possible to adjust machine speeds based on actual needs, improving overall operational efficiency even with fewer people onsite.
Smarter energy management
Energy usage has become a major concern for manufacturers. IIoT allows companies to monitor and optimize machine energy consumption by aligning operations with real-time production demands. This not only reduces resource waste, but also improves the company’s environmental footprint.
Cybersecurity at the heart of IIoT
Cybersecurity is a top priority for every industrial stakeholder—and rightly so. To safeguard your systems, it’s crucial to adopt an industrial connectivity solution that meets the highest security standards. Solutions developed by HMS Networks are ISO 27001 certified and comply with IEC 62443 standards as well as Class 1 Div 2 certification, ensuring that your infrastructure remains secure—even when lean holiday staffing might otherwise increase vulnerabilities.
The benefits of industrial connectivity for machine builders and end users during holiday periods
An industrial connectivity solution like those offered by HMS Networks can bring significant value during holiday periods—for all players in the industrial space.
For machine builders: it enables remote support, boosts customer satisfaction, and reduces response times, even with limited personnel.
For machine users: it minimizes downtime, optimizes resources, and helps manage workforce constraints more effectively, ensuring production continuity and lower operating costs.
Industrial connectivity takes your business to the next level
IIoT empowers industrial companies to better manage holiday periods by ensuring that equipment stays operational—even with a reduced workforce. Whether for monitoring, maintenance, or performance optimization, Industry 4.0 technologies deliver greater flexibility and responsiveness, reducing the risk of production disruptions.
Investing in such a solution is a strategic move for both machine builders and end users, helping them navigate these traditionally sensitive periods with greater peace of mind and efficiency.
Meet Ewon Flexy: your gateway to smarter, safer, holiday-proof operations
Ewon Flexy by HMS Networks is a versatile IIoT gateway designed to help manufacturers and machine builders monitor, troubleshoot, and optimize equipment—remotely and securely.
With support for major industrial protocols, real-time data logging, alarm notifications, and secure cloud connectivity, Ewon Flexy empowers your team to keep machines running efficiently—even when your plant is running lean.