Summary of Key Findings

Key Findings by Company Type

Key Findings by Company Size

Growth Opportunities for Solution Providers Developing Smart IoT Solutions in Manufacturing

Research Objectives

Research Methodology

4 Out of 10 Companies Reported Achieving ‘Above Average’ Growth in the Last 3 Years

A Large Proportion of Medium and Large Companies Report Achieving Above Average Growth in the Last 3 Years

Majority of he Companies Report that their Overall Operating Cost Structure is on Par with the Industry Average

There is More Variance in he Cost Structure of Large Organizations, with 16% Having Lower Costs and 20% Higher Costs

Quality Control, Supply Chain Management, Materials Management, Inventory Management, and Logistics and Transportation are the Most Challenging Areas within Manufacturing Operations

Quality Control is he Most Challenging Area for Discrete Manufacturing Companies. Process Manufacturing Organizations Struggle More with Supply Chain Management

Quality Control is More Challenging to Small Companies, While Supply Chain Management is More Challenging to Large Companies

Most Companies Implement Training Programs To Overcome Challenges In Manufacturing Operations

While Small and Medium Companies Implement Training Programs to Address Challenges, Large Companies Use Technology to Streamline Processes

One Out of Three Respondents is Very Familiar with Smart IoT Solutions for Manufacturing

About 1 Out of 2 Respondents from Large Companies is Very Familiar with Smart IoT Solutions for Manufacturing

Overall Familiarity with Smart IoT Solutions for Manufacturing is Higher Among Discrete Manufacturing Companies

Overall Familiarity with Smart IoT Solutions for Manufacturing is About the Same Across the Company Size Categories

Process Manufacturing Companies Seem to Have Slightly More Challenges in Understanding Smart IoT Solutions (Variability of Understanding Across Business Units and Gaps in Understanding)

A Higher Proportion of Large Companies Find Understanding Smart IoT Solutions (Variability of Understanding Across Business Units and Gaps in Understanding) a Challenge

More Companies Get Information on Emerging Manufacturing Technologies and Processes within their Industry from Industry Conferences, and Technology and Trade Publications

A Higher Proportion of Large Companies Use the Knowledge of Employees (Internal Experts) to Understand Emerging Manufacturing Technologies and Processes within their Industry

The Majority of Companies Believe that Smart IoT Solutions Can Help Drive Operational Efficiencies and Effectiveness, and Improve their Competitiveness

Expectation that Smart IoT Solution can Help Drive Operational Efficiencies and Effectiveness and Improve Competitiveness is Slightly Higher Among Large Companies

The Need to be on he Cutting Edge of Manufacturing Technology and the Need to Improve Responsiveness are Key Reasons for Implementing IoT Solutions

Some Difference in Reasons to Adopt can be Observed (Mostly Directional Due to Small Sample Sizes)

About One-third of he Companies have Already Deployed Smart IoT Solutions for Manufacturing Operations

The Level of Deployment of Smart IoT Solution for Manufacturing Operations is Significantly Higher Among Large Companies

Smart IoT Solutions, on Average, have been Used for 2 to 3 Years

There are no Significant Differences in the Duration of Smart IoT Use Across Company Sizes (Due to Small Sample Size)

More Companies Have Implemented Supply Chain Tracking and Equipment and Machinery Management Solutions

Security and Surveillance Solutions More Widely Implemented Among Medium-size Companies (Directional Due to Small Sample Size)

There are Just Slight Differences in the Types of Solutions Being Considered for Implementation in the Next 12 to 24 Months

Integrated Mobile Workforce Management is the Most Sought-after IoT Solution by Medium-size Companies

Production Floor, Inventory Management are the Areas that Most Commonly Implement Smart IoT Solutions

Asset Management and Compliance are Areas with Relatively Common Implementation of Smart IoT Solutions Among Small Companies, Whereas Medium Use IoT in Personnel and Plant Safety Areas

Majority of Smart IoT Aspects are Managed In-house or Through Outsourced Vendors/Consultants

A Higher Proportion of Large Companies Manage Smart IoT Solutions in House

1 Out of 5 Companies is Likely to Implement Smart IoT Solutions in the Next 2 Years

The Likelihood of Implementing Smart IoT Solutions Increases with the Size of the Company

Supply Chain Management, Inventory Management and Quality Control are the Priority Areas for IoT/ Smart Manufacturing Technologies

Priority Areas in Implementing IoT Solutions are Similar Among Small and Medium Companies. Large Companies Indicates Relatively More Often the Priority of Asset Management, and Logistics and Transportation

The Top Objectives that Companies re Likely to Pursue Over the Next 5 Years are Driving Product/Service Quality and Reducing Overall Manufacturing Costs

Improving Supply Chain Management ill e Pursued by Higher Proportion of Large Companies

A Majority of the Companies have ot Fully Realized their Post-implementation Objectives/Outcomes

Small Companies are Slightly More Optimistic About the Realization of Objectives

Most Process Manufacturing Companies are Still in the Early Stage of Implementation (Too Early to Meet Objectives). Lack of Adequate Resources to Train Employees on IoT is a Key Reason Why Discrete Manufacturing Companies are Unable to Meet Objectives

Large Companies Indicate that hey Still at an Early Stage of Implementation. 1 Out of 2 Medium-size Companies Experiences Push-back from External Constituents

On Average, Companies Expecting Cost Savings of 15% to 20% from the Deployment of Smart IoT Solutions. The Level of Cost Savings Achieved is a Couple of Percentage Points Lower than Expected

Small Companies Expect Slightly Higher Cost Savings from the Deployment of Smart IoT Solutions

About 30% of he Companies are Very Satisfied with heir Smart IoT Solution

Small Companies are Significantly More Satisfied with heir Smart IoT Solution

About of 30% Respondents are Very Satisfied with their Smart IoT Solution Vendor. the Share f those Satisfied is Higher Among Process Manufacturing Companies

A Significant Number of Small Companies Indicated that hey are Very Satisfied with heir Smart IoT Solution Provider

All Respondents Agree that Lower Cost and Post-implementation Support are the Two Most Valuable Assistance that Vendors Could Provide

Expected Assistance Types is Generally Consistent Across Company Sizes

Selecting the Most Suitable Solution and Upfront Costs are the Most Important Challenges to the Adoption of Smart IoT Solutions

Choosing the Most Suitable Solution is he Priority of Small Companies, While Medium-size Companies Consider Software, Implementation Costs, and Security Concerns

Uncertainty About RoI and Other Operational Priorities are the Most Important Reasons that Hinder the Implementation of Smart IoT Solutions

Lack of Operational Expertise in IT is Highlighted By Separation Between IT and OT Priorities in IoT Deployments

Opinion is Divided When it Comes to Increase or Decrease in Spending Over the Next 2 Years

A Smaller Portion of Large Companies Expect their Overall Manufacturing Operations Budget to Decrease

A Majority of the Companies Expect to Increase their Overall Spending on Smart IoT Solutions Over the Next 2 Years

All Companies Expect a Change In Spending on Smart IoT Solutions Over the Next 12 to 24 Months

Supply Chain and Inventory Management are the Areas Most Likely to Benefit from he Implementation of Smart IoT

Medium-size Companies are More Likely to Benefit from Budgetary Planning nd Forecasting

Average Annual Revenue of Companies s About $1.5 Billion

IT Employees Made Up Half of he Sample Size; Nearly Half of Them Hold Managerial Positions

Over Half of the Respondents from Small and Medium Companies Were from he IT Department

Experience in Manufacturing Operation Management is Slightly Higher in Process Manufacturing Companies; 36% of the Respondents Have an Experience of 15 Years or More

Larger Companies Have a Higher Share of Employees with More Experience in Manufacturing Operations Management

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