The Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) is a powerful trend in the Aerospace & Defense industry. This industry has been one of the forerunners in the IIoT maturity spectrum, having implemented sensor technology and computerized automation for several years in the recent past. Successful aerospace and defense companies are constantly innovating and are increasingly upgrading their technological infrastructure using elements of IIoT such as edge computing, big data, predictive analytics, cloud, and other applications. With the convergence of digitized machine parts and improved connectivity, IIoT is already gaining momentum across several departments of aerospace and defense manufacturing. Like its implementation in any other industry, the objective of IIoT in aerospace and defense industry also is in improving process and product efficiencies.
Military and commercial airlines are increasingly generating several terabytes of data every day, as increasing number of manufacturers are adding sensor technology to these machines. The data actually being put to use is all but a small fraction of the huge mountain of data that could be potential sources of additional revenue to the manufacturers. Aircraft health and maintenance, system and component performance, crucial customer related data are all a part of this mix. This is where IIoT plays a crucial role in helping manufacturers in managing this torrential volume of data and identifying newer service and business model opportunities.
Some of the key benefits of IIoT for the aerospace and defense industry include:
- Aircraft maintenance and health monitoring
- Ability to tweak aircraft design and functionalities based on usage behavior
- Real-time identification of quality issues
- Quick and easy delivery of software updates
- Improvement of operational efficiency
- Enriched design and manufacturing environment
- Easy tracking and traceability
Leading aircraft manufacturers who have already implemented IIoT in their factory operations are now realizing returns in the form of overall cost reduction, improved process efficiencies, improved product reliability, and enhanced customer experience through predictive maintenance of aircraft. Engine fuel efficiency and performance improvements such as noise and emission cancellation are some of the parameters that are being looked at by aircraft manufacturers. Furthermore, these IIoT solutions are enabling additional revenue streams for OEMs, engine manufacturers, and airline operators alike. In fact, the opportunities are so many that the real challenge is more in identifying where to start implementing IIoT. A lot of airlines companies have already invested or have planned their budgets for near future IIoT implementations, which is why it becomes all the more important to understand what major market players are doing in the space.
In a scenario of ever expanding opportunities and development of newer business models, aerospace companies are looking at exploring newer ways to adopt digital technologies within their realm of manufacturing operations. This research report looks at identifying the multiple opportunities and ways in which IIoT can be implemented across all the different stages of the A&D manufacturing value chain. The study will also look at ways by which IIoT is perceived within the industry, its benefits, and the competitive landscape. Supported by established use cases, the study aims to cover the prospective value of investments in the vertical and how this has spread across various constituent elements in the industrial ecosystem. Additionally, the research will also involve analysing potential differences in approaching IIoT implementation across Tier-1, Tier-2 and Tier-3 manufacturers.
With such rapid advancements of IIoT in aerospace and defence manufacturing, soon millions of sensors will start collecting several zetabytes of aircraft data. It will be exciting to explore and discover innovative business opportunities that all these data could bring to the industry. As far as this industry is concerned, the concept of IIoT is not for distant future. Now is the right time to think and act.
