Real-time Data from Connected Factory is Key to Driving Innovation and Delivering Competitive Advantages
互联工厂实时数据成推动创新和提升竞争优势的关键

Analog Devices, Inc. (Nasdaq: ADI) announced a newly commissioned study conducted by Forrester Consulting on behalf of Analog Devices, that shows that industrial manufacturers who have made investments in connectivity technologies (“high maturity”) are better positioned to drive innovation and gain a competitive advantage compared to firms that have been slower to implement connectivity (“low maturity”) across the factory floor.

ADI公司宣布了一项由Forrester咨询公司代表ADI进行的最新委托研究，该研究显示，与在整个工厂实施互联技术较慢("低成熟度")的企业相比，已对互联技术方面进行投资("高成熟度")的工业制造商更能推动创新并获得竞争优势。
 
The study, based on a survey of more than 300 manufacturing, operations and connectivity executives across the globe, found that 85% of high maturity firms are currently using Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) technologies across much of the factory floor, compared to 17% of low maturity organizations. Over half (53%) of low maturity organizations report that their legacy equipment is unable to communicate with other assets.

该研究基于对全球300多名制造、运营和连接领域高管的调查，发现85%的高成熟度企业目前在工厂车间的大部分区域使用了工业物联网（IIoT）技术，而低成熟度企业只有17%。超过一半(53%)的低成熟度组织报告说，他们的传统设备无法与其他资产进行通信。
 
“This past year was a true catalyst for digital transformation and many businesses needed to navigate and adopt connectivity strategies that helped them to become more agile and lay the groundwork for future innovation,” said Martin Cotter, SVP Industrial, Consumer & Multi-Markets at Analog Devices. “We see significant opportunity in the adoption of connectivity solutions, including 5G, to help organizations get data more quickly, enabling end applications.”

"过去的一年是数字化转型的真正催化剂，许多企业需要引导和采用连接策略，帮助他们变得更加敏捷，并为未来的创新奠定基础，"ADI工业、消费和多市场高级副总裁Martin Cotter说。"我们看到采用包括5G在内的连接解决方案的重大机遇，以帮助企业更快速地获取数据，实现终端应用。"

Findings from the research
研究结果 

Connected firms believe that improving network reliability (including adding 5G networks) will create significant opportunity: 68% of high maturity firms say this will enable them to make better use of existing cloud infrastructure and 66% believe their industrial data and IP will be more secure. Conversely, only 21% of low maturity firms believe that improving network reliability will help improve security. However, all respondents agree that improving network reliability will improve efficiency by freeing up employees who are constantly resolving downtime issues.

互联企业认为提高网络可靠性(包括增加5G网络)将创造重大机遇：68%的高成熟度企业表示，这将使他们更好地利用现有的云基础设施，66%的企业认为他们的工业数据和IP将更加安全。相反，只有21%的低成熟度企业认为提高网络可靠性将有助于提高安全性。不过，所有受访者一致认为，提高网络可靠性可以将员工从不断解决停机问题当中解放出来，从而提高效率。

Low maturity firms struggle with security risk: 54% say that their lack of sophisticated cybersecurity strategy puts their business, customer, and employee safety at risk.

低成熟度企业在安全风险中苦苦挣扎：54%的企业表示，他们缺乏成熟的网络安全策略，让他们的业务、客户和员工的安全受到威胁。

The human element continues to pose challenges: Almost half (47%) of low maturity firms say they lack the expertise to understand which connectivity technologies to invest in, indicating a skills gap. Even high maturity firms report that it is not easy for them to access the insights they need to make labor planning and safety decisions.

人的因素继续带来挑战。近一半(47%)的低成熟度企业表示，他们缺乏专业知识，无法理解应该投资哪些连接技术，这表明存在技能差距。即使是高成熟度的企业也表示，他们不容易获得做出人力规划和安全决策所需的洞察力。

Real-time monitoring of equipment and productivity demonstrates an acute awareness of the high cost of unscheduled downtime: High (5%) and medium (17%) maturity firms reported much lower occurrence of unscheduled downtime of their industrial technology or equipment each week than low maturity companies (53%). These interruptions lead to higher cost of holding inventory and labor per unit, loss of production and customer confidence and decreased work capacity.

对设备和生产力的实时监控显示出对代价高昂的非计划性停机的敏锐意识：高成熟度（5%）和中等成熟度（17%）的公司报告说，他们的工业技术或设备每周非计划性停机的发生率远低于低成熟度公司（53%）。这些中断会导致单位库存和人工成本的增加，生产和客户信心的损失，以及工作能力的下降。

This research shows us that while many firms are benefiting from the promise of industrial connectivity, others have significant legacy and talent-related hurdles to overcome. Both a shortage of in-house expertise and interoperability of systems and data are two major hindrances to manufacturing modernization.

这项研究向我们表明，虽然许多企业正在从工业互联的承诺中受益，但其他企业还有重大的旧系统和人才相关的障碍需要克服。内部专业知识的短缺，以及系统与数据的互操作性都是制造业升级的两大障碍。

Methodology
研究方法

For this study, “Seamless Connectivity Fuels Industrial Innovation” (March 2021) – commissioned by Analog Devices – Forrester Consulting conducted a global online survey of 312 industrial connectivity strategy leaders. Survey participants included decision-makers in IT, operations, cybersecurity, and general management manufacturing roles. The study was conducted in October 2020.

在这项名为 "无缝连接助力工业创新"（2021年3月）的研究中，受ADI委托，Forrester 咨询公司对312名工业连接战略领导者进行了全球在线调查。调查参与者包括IT、运营、网络安全和综合管理制造业角色的决策者。该研究于2020年10月进行。
来源：《中华工控网》 翻译