Industrial Tablet Recommendations

Kickstarting your frontline digital transformation journey means an investing in technology — both software and hardware. This means tablets on the shop floor and out in the field. Tablets give supervisors, maintenance techs, and operators, access to valuable digital tools and data.

As the leading solution for digital work instructions and operational training, Dozuki has helped hundreds of manufacturers assess tablets for a wide range of industrial and manufacturing environments. From freezing ice boxes, to molten steel forges, and everything in between. With this background, we created this comprehensive resource to help you feel confident when choosing tablets for your operations.

• The Benefits of Tablets
• Evaluating Tablets
• Tablet Recommendations
• Case and Mount Recommendations

The Benefits of Tablets

Increased Accessibility

The portability of tablets reduces the need for bulky monitors and fixed work stations. Time spent traveling to find, access, or return information to separate locations leads to waste and poor quality standards.

Tablets give operators the ability to access and record information on the shop floor or in the field, where computers and large binders are not practical. When finding and accessing information is a burden, people will be less likely to use documented standards.

Information Control

Not only are paper trails messy, they are unregulated—creating a data security vulnerability.

Tablets move company knowledge off of paper records and into a more controlled environment. This reduces the risk that information is shared or changed without proper approval. Traceable edits and access logs guarantee that only current safety and quality standards are being used.

Deploy Revisions and Updates Faster

When procedures are updated, they can be instantly distributed to tablets on the shop floor—making communication of changes much faster. Gone are the days of tracking down pages in a binder, ripping them out, and replacing with new sheets.

Quickly Photograph and Record Processes

Handheld tablets allow engineers and operators to photograph on the floor. Rather than waiting to transfer files from cameras to computers, tablets can be used to instantly capture equipment, processes, and issues on the floor. Capturing videos is an excellent way to demonstrate work and key safety procedures. Visual information benefits everyone because it reduces ambiguity and improves safety. Tablets can be a great catalyst for creating more effective visual work instructions and training materials.

Built-in Scanners

Tablets can use bluetooth barcode scanners as a more portable alternative to wired scanners with computer workstations. The tablet’s camera can also utilize QR codes to tag workstations, check inventory, and more. Operators frequently use this capability in Dozuki to lookup maintenance procedures, submit quality checks, or verify part ID numbers.

Digital Work Instructions

Tablets make accessing and reading work instructions far easier. Clear displays allow for information to be presented more visually, leveraging CAD drawings, photos, and videos. Instructions are easier to navigate and read, as universal motions, such as swiping and pinching allow operators to quickly scan, and focus on specific information.

Evaluating Tablets

After helping hundreds of customers purchase tablets and implement electronic work instructions, we’ve learned that each aspect is vital to ensure that tablets will be successfully implemented and adopted. IT departments will be focused on infrastructure and security, while floor supervisors will be more concerned with practical aspects, such as the device’s usability or battery life. Use the following criteria to guide your decision and balance the needs of all stakeholders involved.

Environmental Factors

Manufacturing and field service companies run in a wide range of environments to consider when finding the right industrial tablet for your business.

Power Availability

Depending on the use-case, you will need to determine if the device can be docked for most of the day, or if the battery needs to last 12+hours. Alternatively, rugged tablets with will a hot-swap batteries can be used to maintain power indefinitely.

Internet Availability

Will wi-fi always be available? If an internet connection is required, will a hotspot be necessary for field work or off-site jobs?

Touchscreens

For colder environments, operators may need tablets that they can interact with while wearing gloves. If the environment is humid or wet, consider tablets specifically built for these purposes.

Water Resistance

Will the device need to be able to be water or dust proof? If so, pay attention to the device's "IP" rating.

Data Entry

Will the operator be entering large amounts of data as part of their work? If so, consider a keyboard accessory to make the work faster and less prone to errors.

Security and IT Support

Make sure your tablet’s operating system can be used within the existing infrastructure of any governing IT departments. Device security largely comes down to the greater network security and the type of access points available. Tablets aren’t inherently risky from this perspective, but it’s not a point to be taken lightly.

Durability

Shop floor tablets need to be rugged, and able to endure active and often hazardous manufacturing environments. Knowing that your screen won’t shatter when bumped or dropped is important because repairs aren’t always cheap. There are tablets built with this in mind, but similar protection can be found by investing in rugged cases. No matter the choice, make sure to equip your screens with added protection against cracks and scratches.

Repairability

While repairability may seem to be a secondary concern, as we invest more in technology it’s increasingly important to understand the total costs of ownership. Consider the repairability of the tablet as an investment in the longevity of your device. Accidents are inevitable and certain components simply have a shelf life. For example, most lithium-ion batteries are only intended to last about two years. Does your device make it easy to replace batteries, or will you need to spend money on a new one? Will it require costly repairs when a screen cracks? Our friends at iFixit create repairability scores for tablets which provide a sense of how difficult a device is to repair.

Software Needs

Consider which applications and software tools you intend to use with the tablet. Does the system include native software that you don't want operators to have access to? Knowing what applications you plan to use with your devices ahead of time can be helpful when assessing options. Not all software programs have applications for every operating system. On the other hand, cloud-based applications have the advantage of working on any web browser.