Ensuring Unmatched Protection, Reliability for Critical Equipment

When the country went into lockdown last year, organizations across all industries and sectors turned to technology to ensure business continuity—from remote working, online learning to critical financial transactions. This trend is also true, particularly in manufacturing firms as they are pushed to adopt new digital tools.

In recent years, manufacturers were increasingly eyeing investments in automation, such as robotics and machine learning to improve processes, says Vertiv, a global provider of critical digital infrastructure and continuity solutions. Research & market also expect Artificial Intelligence (AI) spend in manufacturing to reach $17.2B by 2025, growing at a CAGR of 49.5%.

“The new normal accelerated even more the need for manufacturers to adopt digital tools to automate their processes. One key benefit of automation is the reduction of risks, especially in 

industrial sites with heavy machinery or those in dangerous operation environments,” said Jason Lim, country manager of Vertiv in the Philippines. 

Lim said that manufacturing companies must optimize their supply chain to deliver greater value to customers to continue thriving even amid the new normal. So, aside from pricing and stock availability, manufacturers focus increasingly on simplifying supply chain management to enable more efficient operations, manage stocks better, and reduce operational costs. Many will digitize their supply chains through the use of business intelligence and other tools to improve logistics, optimize network and inventory, and procurement.

Increasing Need to Protect Equipment

Due to the growing customer demands and expectations, manufacturers has an added pressure to make sure they meet or even exceed production schedules. That is why the protection of manufacturing equipment is critical, as downtime means lost productivity, penalties, damaged reputation and lost revenues.

“While there are many causes of downtime, many equipment-related failures can be preventable. Thus, it is critical to maintain reliability through regular facility testing and by utilizing solutions that protect against common causes of breakdowns, such as power surges and electrical spikes,” said Lim. 

Meanwhile, with increased reliance on automation and AI, manufacturers must come up with ways to seamlessly integrate technology into everyday manufacturing operations. 

“Nowadays, AI and robotics are increasingly used on the manufacturing floor to speed up manufacturing processes. Some equipment must also be optimized and designed to accommodate technology integration through the use of predictive tools, as well as power availability,” added Lim.  

Managing the Data Center

Aside from protecting the equipment used on the manufacturing floor, it is also critical to maintain their data center. In manufacturing firms, data centers has served as the backbone for many IT applications and transactions. 

For IT managers, they need to have the right infrastructure to support the uptick in compute requirements and manage the entire manufacturing facility better and smarter. Their equipment must also be optimized and designed to accommodate technology integration through predictive tools and power availability.

“As they strive to create a leaner, more efficient supply chain, manufacturers must be aware of key supply and demand information in real-time, right up to the shop floor so they can adjust production SKUs and schedules,” Lim added. “Predictive monitoring tools can aid in having a smarter supply chain network. These tools must be able to predict, diagnose and provide action on all areas of the manufacturing network to ensure process continuity at all times.”

To help manufacturers in the Philippines, Vertiv provides integrated solutions specific to the needs of manufacturing organizations regardless of size. The company’s wide portfolio of customized power protection, thermal management, monitoring, and automation solutions provides availability and reliability across the manufacturing facility.

Vertiv also provides industrial-grade UPS solutions for their data centers and equipment. An industrial-grade UPS not only has a high tolerance and high reliability but is also designed to provide the facility with a high level of protection. 

Among Vertiv’s offerings is the Liebert EXM2, a ruggedized, industrial-grade UPS ideal for mid-size data centers, manufacturing and healthcare facilities, and other areas where IT availability is critical. 

There is also the Vertiv Liebert ITA2, a fully digital, highly reliable, double-conversion UPS solution that provides clean and consistent power. As a highly efficient solution, it is ideal for various deployments, including IT racks, network closets, automation control systems, and precision instruments to small-sized control rooms, among other edge applications. With its cutting-edge design, Liebert ITA2 enables seamless integration into various ecosystems. It is also tailored for deployment in low carbon, compact footprint.

Meanwhile, since maintaining optimal environmental conditions for manufacturing facilities is equally vital, manufacturers must also have cooling systems. 

For instance, Vertiv’s Leibert LPC, a next-generation series of air conditioners, provides precise environmental control. These air conditioners are products specifically created and designed for facilities, which call for a high degree of accuracy and precision. It is ideal for maintaining a suitable environment in manufacturing facilities and addressing its needs and challenges.

Vertiv also offers other solutions, such as remote monitoring, diagnostics, and data center optimization services. It brings together cutting-edge solutions to ensure uninterrupted operations, optimal performance, and the scalability of data centers, communication networks, and other critical IT facilities. 

To learn more about how Vertiv supports the continuity of today’s vital business applications, visit Vertiv.com.