Everyone seems to be talking about the Internet of Things (IoT) these days – it’s a big, buzzy concept that many cite as the future of connectivity, affecting numerous facets of everyday life. For many though, the IoT is a bit of an abstract idea.

The IoT is about inter-networking “things” – everything from vehicles, to appliances, to building systems and much more – so that they can be better integrated. This allows for reduced human intervention while improving efficiency and accuracy. With the integration of sensors and actuators, the usage is expanded even further.

In the industrial sector, this could have an immense impact when it comes to equipment management, manufacturing process control, and asset and situation management. This can allow for dynamic response to production needs, real-time optimization of the manufacturing process, and much more. One area where it has seen major progress is in monitoring machines to predict and prevent potential failures.

The Center for Intelligent Maintenance Systems, comprised of professionals as well as cutting-edge institutions, has developed methods to assess the degradation of industrial machines through sensors and cloud-based monitoring, and continues to develop more thorough systems for the future. By having computers and machines communicating, the aim is to achieve near-zero breakdown performance, and sustain it through self-maintenance capabilities.

For instance, a sensor could track the movements of a band saw blade, and when it detects it is at a certain point where it will need replacing, it could signal an ordering system to order the part for arrival just prior to the time the blade needs to be replaced. The user could then swap out the blade and continue working right away, with limited human interaction in the chain of actions.

This is driving an increase in demand that has not been seen before, presenting the semiconductor sector with steady growth and plenty of opportunity. In 2016, it was reported that global semiconductor sales were up 12.3% over the previous year, with the total sales of $338.9 billion being a record high for the industry.

Just recently, Intel announced their intent to invest over $7 billion in capital for a research and development location. Expected to be completed in three to four years, the factory in Arizona is expected to provide 3,000 full-time jobs to the area. Intel is only one of many companies investing in the future of the semiconductor industry – particularly in Southeast Asia and China, there is active investing in semiconductor production, including state-backed investments.

Here at Red River Precision, we are experienced in fabricating high-quality components for the semiconductor industry, as well as components for the medical industry, automotive industry, oil and gas industry, and many more industries. We produce custom projects to customers specifications, and pride ourselves in high-level, on-time performance. For more information, contact us online, and make sure to follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn for the latest news and projects.