Solution Background

Amid the global wave of digital transformation in manufacturing, a certain factory faced challenges such as low production efficiency, difficulty in interconnecting devices, and prominent security risks. The client sought to adopt Industry 4.0 technologies to enhance production efficiency and reduce operational costs. The Cisco IT/OT convergence solution addresses the core pain points of manufacturing digitalization and supports intelligent manufacturing upgrades.

Solution Overview

Based on Cisco's Digital Network Architecture (DNA), the smart factory platform deeply integrates IT and OT systems through the following layers:

  • Network Infrastructure Layer: Deploy Cisco industrial-grade switches, routers, and wireless APs to build a highly reliable industrial network. Leverage TSN (Time-Sensitive Networking) to ensure critical business transmission. Achieve full-factory wireless coverage via 5G and Wi-Fi 6
  • Data Convergence Layer. Use Cisco IE4000 series switches to connect OT devices such as PLCs and robots. Deploy Cisco Edge Intelligence for edge computing. Build a unified data bus to integrate IT and OT data
  • Application Platform Layer. Deploy Cisco DNA Center to automate network management. Integrate with MES, ERP, and other industrial software systems. Develop intelligent applications such as predictive maintenance and digital twins
  • Security Protection System. Implement Cisco Cyber Vision for OT security visualization. Deploy industrial firewalls and micro-segmentation. Establish an end-to-end security protection framework

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Customer Pain Points

  • Device protocols are inconsistent, causing poor interconnectivity
  • Low production efficiency and insufficient equipment effectiveness, leading to high downtime losses
  • Numerous vulnerabilities in OT systems with weak security protection
  • High network maintenance costs, difficult fault localization, and lack of professional talent

Solution Advantages

  • Deep Integration: Unified management of IT/OT networks, supports mainstream industrial protocols, data latency <10ms to meet real-time control demands
  • High Reliability: High network availability, millisecond-level failover, industrial-grade equipment protection
  • Intelligent O&M: Automated network configuration, shortened fault location time, improved accuracy of predictive maintenance
  • Trusted Security: Improved threat detection rate, security incident response time <5 minutes

Customer Benefits

  • Production Efficiency: Improved overall equipment effectiveness (OEE), reduced downtime
  • Cost Efficiency: Lower energy consumption and maintenance costs
  • Security Compliance: Reduced security incidents and compliance with relevant standards