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COMMENTARY by Jonathan Newell, Technical Editor xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERS THE SOCIETY OF


DISTRIBUTED INTELLIGENCE FOR INTELLIGENT DISTRIBUTION


T


wo years ago on a visit to Bosch in Stuttgart, an Industry 4.0 expert explained how its technology can be used throughout the distribution environment to track goods, re-plan routes, monitor environmental conditions and enhance supply chain management.


Since then, the predictions of an explosion of connected devices in the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) that forms the backbone of Industry 4.0 has started to meet expectations and it seems clear that the transport and logistics sector will be contributing considerably. According to research by mobile satellite communications company,


Inmarsat, the transport and logistics sector is prioritising IoT, machine learning and robotics to increase efficiencies across the supply chain. The company’s “Future of IoT in Enterprise” report found that respondents see IoT as the top priority in their approach to digital transformation, with 36 per cent having already deployed IoT-based approaches and a further 45 per cent expecting to roll the technology out by 2019. The supply chain looks set to be one of the biggest beneficiaries of digital


technologies, with 14 per cent already reporting visibility and efficiency improvements and a further 65 per cent expecting to achieve this in future. Mike Holdsworth, director of transport at Inmarsat Enterprise, said: “The industry is clearly making significant strides towards digital transformation with IoT-based systems, helping to transform the way goods are manufactured, stored and delivered. Companies that proactively invest in these technologies will be able to facilitate more secure and profitable operations. “Connected machines that can quickly locate and retrieve stock, self-





reliable connectivity cannot be underestimated





navigate through any environment and make automatic route corrections based on real time information updates will prove invaluable for any logistics organisation,” he added. Holdsworth concluded that data-driven smart machines that use sensors to transmit and receive information will need to remain in constant communication through every stage of the worldwide supply chain to be effective. However, this can be especially challenging in “blackspots” with little to no mobile coverage. On the need for a robust communication infrastructure to support this, Holdsworth said: “For logistics companies to access the full value of IoT-based solutions, the importance of reliable, continuous connectivity cannot be underestimated, and this is only achievable through a dedicated satellite communications technology.”


Importance of President and Chairman of Council


Peter Vincent, PSEE, BA, IEng, MIET, Hon.FSEE Immediate Past President


Graham Couser, PPSEE, CEng, CEnv, Hon.FSEE Past Presidents


Prof Steve Burnage PPSEE, CEng, CEnv, FIMechE Hon.FSEE


Prof Mervyn L. de Calcina-Goff, StJ, PPSEE ASIS CEnv, FRSA, Hon.FSEE


Vice Presidents


Stephen Tweed, CEng, CEnv, FSEE James Regan, CEnv, FSEE


Hon.Treasurer


Colin Weetch, IEng, FSEE Chief Executive


Prof Raymond P. Clark, OBE, DSc, CEng, CEnv, Hon.FSEE, Hon.FSE


Secretariat


Diana Kharchenko 020 7630 2132


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© Society of Environmental Engineers 2018 ISSN 0954-5824


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June 2018 /// Environmental Engineering /// 3


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