Discover the Future of Remote Services & Monitoring in the Packaging and Processing Industry
“Trends in Remote Services & Monitoring” – a PMMI 2024 report, in collaboration with Interact Analysis, offers an authoritative analysis of the advancements in remote services within the packaging and processing sector. This document is essential for professionals seeking to understand the post-pandemic industrial landscape.
Key Points of the Report:
- Remote Services Overview: The report defines remote services as a set of tools used by end-users to support operations remotely. This includes Virtual Factory Acceptance Tests (FATs), remote support, commissioning, training, monitoring, predictive maintenance, and preventative maintenance.
- Usage Trends: Post-Covid-19, 54.1% of end-users have increased their investment in remote services and monitoring. The most utilized remote service is remote support (55.1%), followed by remote monitoring (37.5%). However, virtual FATs and remote commissioning are less popular.
- Drivers of Investment: The primary reasons for investing in remote services are reducing machinery downtime, optimizing machine performance, and increasing the speed of support. Cost reduction is less of a priority.
- Barriers to Adoption: The main barriers include the cost of service, limited IT skills, and cybersecurity risks. Retrofitting older machinery for remote services is a significant challenge.
- Cybersecurity Concerns: Concerns about cybersecurity are substantial, with malware, supply chain attacks, and data theft being the top fears. However, end-users are becoming less concerned as they strengthen IT networks and improve remote access methods.
- Interface Challenges: Many end-users face challenges with different remote service interfaces across machines. The majority use multiple interfaces, and only a minority have a unified interface.
- Remote Access Methods: Direct VPNs are the most common method for enabling remote access. The use of externally managed secure networks is expected to grow.
- Future Outlook: The report suggests that remote services will continue to play a significant role in end-user operations, with a focus on predictive maintenance and overcoming skills gaps.
The report highlights the growing importance and adoption of remote services in the packaging and processing industry, driven by the need to optimize operations and reduce downtime. While there are challenges, particularly in retrofitting older machinery and managing cybersecurity risks, the trend towards increased use of remote services is clear.
