Industrial IoT

A solution to help manufacturing industry in reporting and tracking technical challenges

To design a web and mobile platform for an Industrial IoT System that monitors machine health in real time, enabling technicians and supervisors to streamline maintenance workflows and ensure uninterrupted production. This design challenge required creating a conceptual solution within a limited timeframe and without access to direct user research. The focus was on quickly iterating designs based on secondary research, competitive analysis, and empathy-driven assumptions about user workflows.

Challenge

Factories often struggle with unexpected machine failures and delays in addressing maintenance issues, leading to downtime and increased costs. The challenge was to design a real-time monitoring and reporting system accessible via mobile and web applications to address these issues effectively.

The goal is to address these challenges by providing a real-time monitoring and reporting system accessible via mobile and web applications.

Target Users:

Technicians – Monitor machines, receive real-time alerts, and update statuses.
Supervisors – Analyze machine reports, track maintenance progress, and make critical decisions.

Research

Given the time constraints, I adopted a desk-based research approach and analyzed existing tools like IBM Maximo and GE Predix to gather inspiration for functionality and usability patterns.

I imagined user scenarios for technicians and supervisors, identifying key workflows such as receiving alerts, updating statuses, and viewing detailed machine reports.

My assumptions were validated through logical reasoning, focusing on simplicity and efficiency to ensure quick adoption.

Understanding Industrial IoT (IIoT) Monitoring Systems

Industrial IoT (IIoT) Monitoring Systems are advanced platforms designed to connect machines, sensors, and devices in industrial environments to collect, monitor, and analyze real-time data. These systems leverage Internet of Things (IoT) technology to enable predictive maintenance, optimize workflows, and reduce downtime in factories and production plants.

Research Insight

Technicians need real-time alerts and easy reporting tools to minimize downtime.

Supervisors prioritize data visualization and detailed analytics to make informed decisions.

Both groups benefit from a collaborative interface for status updates and task delegation.

Personas

Technician

Jordon Brown is a technician. His goals is to identify issues and report the status quickly. Ineffective way to report problems and delays in communications are few pain points.

Supervisor

Jordon Brown is a technician. His goals is to identify issues and report the status quickly. Ineffective way to report problems and delays in communications are few pain points.

Design

The design phase focused on quickly conceptualizing workflows and creating intuitive interfaces for the IIoT product, which I named as MyFactory.

Using the research insights, I structured features around technician and supervisor needs. Low-fidelity wireframes were drafted to explore ideas, followed by high-fidelity prototypes to ensure visual clarity and usability.

The emphasis was on simplicity and efficiency, enabling seamless navigation through dashboards, alerts, and detailed reports. Iterative feedback helped refine the designs, focusing on essential features that address maintenance workflows without overwhelming the users.