Rugged industrial computers are streamlining the data process in manufacturing plants across the world. Whether your work takes place in an indoor factory handling assembly, repair or maintenance operation, or an outdoor site, your mobile computing needs go beyond what a consumer device can provide. Manufacturing floors require resiliency, mobility, and the ruggedness to withstand the demands of a manufacturing environment.
Consumer, off-the-shelf laptops and tablets cannot handle the environmental hazards of a manufacturing workplace or the vibrations generated by manufacturing equipment —forklifts, heavy machinery, power tools to name a few. In addition, a manufacturing environment isn’t always the most convenient location for the IT department, so in order to reduce downtime, your rugged tablet or laptop needs to be reliable.
Why a Rugged Computer for Manufacturing?
In a manufacturing environment, being careful with the equipment just isn’t adequate. Exposure to dusty air, extreme temperature fluctuations, powerful vibrations, chemicals, drops, and the many other things that afflict the average computer in a manufacturing job site plague even the most careful equipment handlers.
Certain hazards are simply unavoidable, however, avoiding hazards is only part of the solution to providing durable computers in a rugged environment. You also need your computers to have constant access to real-time data and the capacity to integrate with applications and networks, so you can identify and communicate with automated manufacturing stations within the manufacturing network.
True Serial ports, USB connectors, RFID readers, and bar code scanners need to function seamlessly with rugged computing devices so you can manage parts installation and inspection, collect data for compliance reporting, track inventory and assets, and mobilize workflow.
Rugged Mobile Computing for the Aerospace and Aviation Industry
All manufacturing facilities carry a certain amount of pressure. Companies who manufacture defective merchandise soon go out of business and often find themselves in court fending off lawsuits.
Lack of manufacturing precision in the aerospace and aviation industry produces disastrous results. Aviation and aerospace manufacturers deliver the most sophisticated and automated aircraft ever. Those life or death designs and calculations often depend on the dependability of your mobile computing devices. In short, you don’t manufacture advanced airplanes and components without using the most advanced equipment.
With the right rugged device you can increase efficiency and cost-effectiveness with highly flexible mobile workflows powered by technology. From initial testing to takeoff, manufacturers of all sizes involve themselves with design implementation, maintenance and repair, frame inspections, electrical systems testing, communications testing, safety compliance, and a myriad of other operations. Having the right people on the right device to manage and coordinate workflow is absolutely necessary.
Rugged Mobile Computing for Auto Manufacturers
Consumers demand more reliability and safety with their automobiles. Other than driver competence, nothing contributes more to the safety of automobiles than automobile manufacturers. Manufacturers, therefore, require technology that helps provide the reliability consumers demand.
In addition, automobile manufacturers must provide fuel-efficient, technologically advanced vehicles in order to compete. Regardless of your role in the automotive manufacturing and supply chain, you’re under a lot of pressure.
Plant production managers, assembly line operators, and auto manufacturing inspectors require and demand unlimited access to data at all hours. They require data from electronic user manuals, work orders, repair tickets, and shipping labels. Paperless rugged mobile computing devices and networks are the best way to deliver real-time data, schedule parts delivery, and track quality. Plus, if the rugged tablet gets run over by a car — it will keep on working.
Rugged Computing Benefits
Regardless of what you manufacture, maintain, or repair, the right rugged computing devices provide numerous benefits. These benefits include the following:
- Durability and Dependability
- Streamlined Manufacturing Floor Processes
- Paperless Factories
- Accelerated Delivery of Information
- Refined Maintenance Planning
- Improved Workforce Scheduling
- Improved Incident Management
- Greater Access to User Manuals
- Longer Battery Life
- Better Documentation
- Greater Mobility
- Quicker Documentation
When it comes to mobile computing in manufacturing, you need devices as rugged as the people who make a living doing rugged things.
The mobile solutions experts at Group Mobile can help you devise a solution to fit your exact manufacturing plant requirements.
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