FEATURE MECHANICAL COMPONENTS
more resIlIent bearIng supply chaIn?
the Iot: the key to a
Disruption caused by the Covid-19 pandemic is estimated to have cost UK manufacturers £66billion due to stock management issues. Chris Johnson, managing director at miniature bearings specialist SMB Bearings, explains how the Internet of Things (IoT) can enable a stronger, more resilient, bearing supply chain
I
n supply chain management, the goal of IoT is to improve visibility and agility through greater connectivity. However, according to Reuters,
during the height of the pandemic, 41% of procurement leaders found their supplier data inadequate, and 26% found it mostly or completely inadequate. A year later, and 72% of procurement leaders are concerned that their supplier intelligence has still not improved. So how can IoT help suppliers find a solution?
a bearIng’s journey
IoT devices can enable visibility across an entire supply chain in real-time, reducing the potential risk associated with having a global supply chain. A bearing’s journey can span multiple geographical regions and goods may be required to travel vast distances. Here, IoT devices are an effective method to not only track and authenticate goods, but to monitor the storage conditions of products to enhance quality management throughout the supply chain.
6 As an example, sensor enabled freight can
use sensor devices to detect current shipment location and environmental variables such as temperature, light exposure and humidity, then wirelessly communicate these variables to the shipper. Crucially, the necessary adjustments can then be made to ensure product quality or adjust onward travel. Sharing information effectively between
different stakeholders in a supply chain is key to ensuring efficiency and reducing risk. Thanks to the IoT, the communication process between suppliers and buyers can be streamlined now more than ever. Having access to data allows sales managers to give accurate supply estimates and timelines when potential or existing buyers make enquiries.
aftermarket
Supply chain optimisation doesn’t end with a sale – supply chain management extends to aftermarket services. Generally, following a bearing sale, buyers are instructed to
3 DESIGN SOLUTIONS NOVEMBER 2021
provide prompt feedback to suppliers when they encounter problems. In the past, bearing buyers may have relied
on customer service departments and call centres to solve their queries, but with IoT connectivity the component failure can be communicated automatically to the supplier so that remedial action can be taken. Before taking appropriate maintenance actions, a comprehensive evaluation of the bearing can be performed, which can save costs in resources and labour. Supply chains have faced unprecedented
challenges in the past eighteen months. Thankfully, new technologies are emerging that can offer solutions. IoT can provide increased visibility across your supply chain, allowing for the monitoring of the condition of bearings while in transit, and enhancing a supplier’s ability to provide maintenance and aftersales support.
SMB Bearings
smbbearings.com
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