<p>This morning, IBM unveiled a new software and service package within its Predictive Asset Optimization product that is intended to predict and prevent equipment failure.</p><p>The idea: use big data, that nebulous concept, to identify irregularities (and calculate the potential risk of them) in instrumented assets so as to avoid slowdowns or failures in the manufacturing process.</p><p>Hardly a sexy topic, but the ramifications are massive. If there's a slowdown (or outright stoppage) in the supply chain, the losses pile up immediately. That's the downside to being extremely fast and efficient: that speed can come back to bite you when the operation goes off the rails.</p><p>(See: Crisis, Financial; 2008 edition.)</p><p><a href="http://www.zdnet.com/big-data-to-predict-equipment-failure-ibm-says-yes-7000012957/">Keep reading...</a></p>