Cisco launched an energy reduction pilot program to model the economic and environmental benefits of web-enabled connectivity in a factory setting. The pilot included the installation of thousands of sensors in a manufacturing partner’s plant in Malaysia to monitor energy consumption.
The goal was to explore how big data can inform decision making and enable operational energy efficiency to reduce the carbon footprint associated with the production of Cisco products. The availability of this data enhances the management of manufacturing operations and enables more efficient and cost-effective use of resources. Conservative estimates indicate the pilot saved the manufacturing partner over US$1M a year in operational expenses.
With the success of this pilot, Cisco is looking to expand the program globally in 2017 by sharing best practices and establishing goals for technological adoption.