Download the Shop Floor Connectivity Checklist
25 quick questions to help you understand your equipment, collect the right data, and set up a smooth, low-risk shop floor connectivity project.
If you’re looking at a mix of old and new machines from different vendors, connecting everything can feel confusing and risky.
This shop floor connectivity checklist walks your team through what you have, what you want from your data, and what needs to be true on the floor so your first connectivity project actually works.
What’s Inside
This practical checklist covers seven areas:
- Know what you have: inventory machines, critical assets, make/model/year.
- Clarify your goals: why you’re connecting equipment and which problems you’re trying to solve.
- Assess existing capabilities: current network connections, interfaces, legacy equipment realities.
- Map data needs: which signals you need (run/stop, counts, rejects, quality checks, energy, alarms) and who needs to see them.
- Review shop floor layout & IT/OT realities: access, network drops, safety constraints, diagrams.
- Evaluate change readiness: scheduling, stakeholders, security and compliance requirements.
- Plan for success: success metrics, everyday users of the data, and post-go-live support.
Who This Shop Floor Connectivity Checklist Is For
This checklist is for manufacturers who want to stop guessing about connectivity and start planning with clear questions and realistic expectations.
It’s especially useful for operations, maintenance, IT/OT, and engineering leaders who need a shared view of the shop floor before they start pulling cables or buying hardware.
How To Use It (In 3 Steps)
- Share it with your cross-functional team (operations, maintenance, IT/OT, engineering).
- Walk through the questions together to uncover gaps, risks, and quick wins before you start.
- Bring it to your Rain Engineering connectivity assessment so you can move faster from discussion to action.
Key Success Factors
Connectivity projects succeed when you know your assets, understand your data needs, and align IT and operations on what “good” looks like.
A structured checklist keeps you focused on safety, security, and measurable outcomes—so you avoid trial-and-error on your live production lines.
Ready to move from guessing to knowing? Book your FREE Connectivity Assessment with Rain Engineering.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does this connectivity checklist fit into a larger digital transformation?
It gives you a clear picture of your machines, data needs, and constraints so later MES and analytics projects have a solid, realistic foundation.
Do I need detailed network diagrams before using this checklist?
No—this checklist helps you identify whether diagrams exist, where there are gaps, and what IT/OT realities you need to understand before committing to hardware or timelines.
What’s the benefit of the free Connectivity Assessment?
The assessment turns your answers into a prioritized plan, highlighting which assets to connect first, what signals to capture, and what it will take to deliver value safely.
Have a question? Reach out to us at (833) 972-4626 or cs@raineng.com.