Fast-food companies are working with technology startups to incorporate more automation into their kitchens to address labor shortages and improve efficiency and productivity. One restaurant chain has an industrial robot arm with a grease-proof sleeve that slides along a rail attached to the ceiling, lifting and lowering baskets of fries. Other robots can assemble and cook food in bowls, while some pizza and taco chains are experimenting with vending machines. Other chains are using self-service ordering kiosks to automate away some customer-facing jobs and streamline processes like online ordering.

Working with an IIoT solutions provider, a company has implemented web-based, responsive sales configuration tools for its products and applications. Using the technology, the company has established a global, central configuration platform from which they can build front-end configurators for local sales units in multiple countries. Key benefits of the project included increased productivity, increased sales due to an accelerated quoting process, reduced printing costs, increased customer self-service and improved technology management. Overall, the company achieved a return on investment of more than 75%.

A manufacturer has implemented Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT)-based, real-time factory floor analytics to overcome an overwhelming amount of data. Using IIoT, the manufacturer was able to obtain data from systems and industrial sensors to provide new business insights and improve production performance. The company also saw improved work order lead times, significantly increased production output and reduced energy usage resulting in significant cost savings. Before the IIoT transformation, the company spent a lot of time analyzing and combining reports to understand what impacted metrics. Now, they plug their data sources into their IIoT solution and can automate analysis to understand where their opportunities are. For the company, transparency of information was important. They now have real-time information to make decisions quickly and accurately, and are providing the same information to people across the business, so that they can make informed decisions, too.

A small manufacturer is producing 3D-printed parts that prove to withstand tension, heat, and other forces seen in real-world scenarios. The company is 3D printing parts that were previously produced using subtractive manufacturing methods and also using 3D printing to develop completely new solutions. "This technology is not just for prototyping. You can actually print parts and put them out in the field,” a company representative said.

A company is using 3D printing to manufacture a part that was previously made of stainless steel and cost about $100; it now costs only $1 to make out of carbon fiber. In addition to the cost benefits associated with 3D printing, the company has also seen a culture change by integrating new technology into its manufacturing process that positions the organization for gains on its journey to Industry 4.0. The 3D printer is placed near the engineering area to get employees curious about what else they can create using 3D printing, shifting the way they think about production and their business.