Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) and Smart Manufacturing Systems

Dear Colleagues,

In recent decades, the development of wireless technology driven by digitalisation has dramatically impacted companies’ ways of working and business environment. For example, the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) is revolutionizing manufacturing by enabling the acquisition and accessibility of big data at greater speeds than ever before. Digitalisation and effective networking are key factors enabling the manufacturing industry to make a successful shift towards smart manufacturing systems, which will efficiently utilise the potential of new technologies for their business outcomes and value.

In fact, IIoT can greatly improve connectivity, efficiency, scalability, time savings, and cost savings for any kind of industrial organization. New digital technologies such as AI-driven solutions, new means of visualizations (AR, VR), intelligent automation (e.g., advanced robotics), cloud services, new data management and analytics practices (e.g., predictive analytics and AI) etc., offer new possibilities to improve companies’ productivity, quality, flexibility and service, self-optimizing operations and effectiveness. Digitalisation and IIoT have brought new business opportunities and new business models but also changed the roles of operators in a value chain and so removed traditional intermediaries in the supply chain while creating new ones. This is due to, for example, direct access to consumers and the increased use of mobile devices or creation of new kinds of ecosystems. Any advances in manufacturing technology and new business models boosted by digitalisation are continuously providing new opportunities and creating added value for the whole manufacturing value chain. Manufacturing industry is going towards Smart Manufacturing Systems with IIoT.

This Special Issue is devoted to topics related to recent trends and progress made in the field of Industrial Internet of Things and Smart Manufacturing Systems. We would like to gather researchers from different disciplines and methodological backgrounds to discuss new ideas, research questions, recent results, and future challenges in this emerging area of research and public interest.

Dr. Maarit Tihinen
Guest Editor

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