When building a new factory, 90% of attention goes to production lines, facilities, and equipment. But if IT isn't ready, launch day becomes a nightmare: network not connected, systems not installed, monitoring not configured—production lines sit idle.
This article provides a complete checklist based on 20+ years of manufacturing IT construction experience, helping you avoid 90% of common pitfalls.
Core Principle: IT and Production Line "Three Synchronizations"
The core principle of new factory IT construction is "synchronized planning, synchronized construction, synchronized launch." IT is not an afterthought—it must be planned from Day 1 alongside the production line.
Phase 1: Requirements Analysis (3-6 months before construction)
IT team engagement: understand production line plans, equipment lists, system requirements
Phase 2: Solution Design (2-4 months before construction)
Network topology, data center location, low-voltage planning, security architecture
Phase 3: Parallel Construction (during construction)
Cabling, equipment installation, system commissioning in parallel with civil works
Phase 4: Integration & Launch (1-2 months before production)
System integration, stress testing, staff training
Checklist 1: Network Planning
☐ Network Architecture
- □ Core switch selection (redundancy design)
- □ Access switch deployment (per floor/zone)
- □ Wired network coverage (office + production areas)
- □ Wireless network coverage (office WiFi + isolated production WiFi)
- □ Guest network (separate VLAN, bandwidth limited)
- □ Internet egress (dual-line redundancy)
- □ VPN deployment (remote work / HQ interconnection)
💡 Experience: Production network and office network must be physically or logically isolated (VLAN + firewall). This is the foundation of industrial control security.
Checklist 2: Security Architecture
☐ Network Security
- □ Next-Generation Firewall (NGFW)
- □ Intrusion Detection/Prevention (IDS/IPS)
- □ Internet behavior management
- □ Endpoint Detection & Response (EDR)
- □ Email security gateway
☐ Data Security
- □ Data backup solution (3-2-1 principle)
- □ Database encryption
- □ File permission controls
- □ USB controls (disable or audit)
- □ Data Loss Prevention (DLP)
☐ Compliance Requirements
- □ MLPS 2.0 classification and filing
- □ Security audit logs (retain 6+ months)
- □ Personal information protection compliance
- □ Industry-specific requirements (e.g., Japanese HQ security standards)
Checklist 3: Data Center Construction
☐ Data Center Environment (reference GB50174-2017)
- □ Space planning (equipment needs + 30% reserve)
- □ Power system (UPS + generator, N+1 redundancy)
- □ Cooling system (precision AC, constant temperature & humidity)
- □ Fire suppression (gas-based, smoke-free, non-damaging)
- □ Anti-static flooring
- □ Access control (card + biometric)
- □ Video surveillance (24/7 recording)
☐ Environmental Monitoring
- □ Temperature & humidity monitoring
- □ Water leak detection
- □ Smoke alarm
- □ UPS status monitoring
- □ Remote alerts (SMS/call/WeCom)
Checklist 4: Low-Voltage Systems
☐ Low-Voltage Planning
- □ Video surveillance (CCTV): full coverage, 90-day recording
- □ Access control: card + facial recognition, zone-based management
- □ PA system: background music + emergency broadcast
- □ Conference systems: projector/large screen + video conferencing
- □ Parking system: license plate recognition + fee management
- □ Structured cabling: Cat6 cables, fiber backbone
Checklist 5: System Planning
☐ Core Systems
- □ ERP system (finance + supply chain)
- □ MES system (manufacturing execution)
- □ OA system (office automation)
- □ HR system (human resources)
- □ Email system
- □ File server
- □ Domain Controller / AD (unified identity authentication)
💡 Experience: System selection must consider 3-5 years of growth, not just current needs. Once ERP/MES goes live, replacement costs are extremely high.
Timeline Reference
| Factory Size | IT Planning Cycle | Construction Cycle |
|---|---|---|
| Small (<10,000㎡) | 1-2 months | 2-3 months |
| Medium (10,000-50,000㎡) | 2-3 months | 4-6 months |
| Large (>50,000㎡) | 3-6 months | 6-12 months |
About Yungu
Suzhou Yungu provides one-stop new factory IT services:
- Requirements analysis + IT planning solution
- Network design + data center construction
- Equipment procurement + system integration
- Project management + launch support
- Ongoing operations & maintenance (optional)
Get the complete "New Factory IT Checklist" for free—contact us today.