Network Support for Manufacturers Where Connectivity Is Not Optional

Your Network Is the Foundation Everything Runs On

Every system in your manufacturing operation depends on the network. Your ERP cannot process orders without it. Your CNC machines cannot receive programs without it. Your VoIP phones cannot ring, your email cannot flow, and your production dashboards cannot update without a reliable, well-designed network.

Yet many manufacturers treat their network as an afterthought. Switches are added haphazardly as the facility grows. Wi-Fi access points are placed wherever there is an open Ethernet jack. The same flat network carries ERP traffic, internet browsing, security cameras, and PLC communications with no segmentation or quality of service.

This approach works until it does not. And when a network problem shuts down production, the cost per minute makes every other IT issue look trivial.

Neuron designs, deploys, and manages network infrastructure purpose-built for manufacturing environments. We understand the unique demands of factory floors, multi-building campuses, IT/OT convergence, and the mission-critical nature of manufacturing connectivity.

Our Network Support Services

Network Design and Architecture

A well-designed network starts with understanding your specific requirements. We assess your facility layout, device inventory, traffic patterns, growth plans, and security requirements before designing a network architecture.

Our manufacturing network designs include:

• Core, distribution, and access layer architecture that provides redundancy and scalability
• VLAN segmentation separating IT, OT, voice, guest, and IoT traffic
• Quality of Service (QoS) policies prioritizing time-sensitive traffic like VoIP and SCADA communications
• Redundant paths eliminating single points of failure for critical systems
• Scalable infrastructure that accommodates growth without forklift upgrades

Whether you are building out a new facility or upgrading an aging network, our designs balance performance, reliability, security, and cost.

Firewall Management

Your firewall is the gatekeeper between your network and the internet, and between your internal network segments. We deploy and manage enterprise-grade firewalls from Fortinet, Palo Alto, and other leading vendors.

Our firewall management includes:

• Rule set configuration and optimization: Policies that allow necessary traffic and block everything else, reviewed and refined regularly
• Intrusion prevention: Real-time inspection of network traffic for known attack signatures and anomalous behavior
• VPN management: Secure remote access for employees and site-to-site connections between facilities
• Web filtering: Content filtering policies that protect against malicious websites and enforce acceptable use
• Firmware updates and patching: Timely updates that close vulnerabilities without disrupting operations
• Logging and reporting: Comprehensive traffic logs for security monitoring, troubleshooting, and compliance auditing

Firewall management integrates with our 24/7 SOC monitoring to provide continuous threat detection and response at the network perimeter.

Industrial Wi-Fi

Factory floor Wi-Fi presents challenges that standard office deployments do not address. Metal structures, high ceilings, electromagnetic interference from machinery, moving equipment, and extreme temperature zones all degrade wireless signals.

We deploy industrial-grade wireless systems designed for manufacturing environments:

• Site surveys using spectrum analysis tools to identify interference sources and optimal access point placement
• Industrial-rated access points built for harsh environments with high temperatures, dust, and vibration
• High-density deployments supporting hundreds of devices per area without degradation
• Seamless roaming for mobile devices, barcode scanners, and AGVs moving across the facility
• Separate SSIDs for corporate devices, production equipment, guest access, and IoT sensors

Reliable Wi-Fi on the plant floor enables mobile ERP access, real-time production tracking, wireless quality inspections, and the expanding universe of IoT-connected devices.

Structured Cabling

The physical layer of your network determines its long-term reliability. We design and install structured cabling systems that meet current requirements and future demands.

Our cabling services include Cat6a and fiber optic installations, MDF/IDF buildouts, cable management systems, and documentation. Every cable run is tested, labeled, and recorded in your network documentation.

For manufacturing facilities, we pay particular attention to cable routing that avoids interference from power lines, motors, and other electromagnetic sources. Industrial-rated cables and connectors are specified for areas exposed to heat, moisture, chemicals, or physical stress.

Network Monitoring

Our network monitoring platform watches every switch, router, firewall, access point, and connected device on your network 24/7. We track bandwidth utilization, latency, packet loss, device health, and availability in real time.

When a switch port fails, a link goes down, or traffic patterns indicate a problem, our team is alerted immediately. Most network issues are identified and resolved before users notice anything unusual.

Monthly network health reports provide visibility into utilization trends, capacity planning needs, and potential bottlenecks. These reports inform proactive upgrades that stay ahead of your growing network demands.

Network monitoring is a core component of our managed IT support service.

IT/OT Network Segmentation

The convergence of IT and OT networks in manufacturing creates significant security risks. A phishing email that compromises an office workstation should never be able to reach a PLC on the production floor. Yet in many manufacturing environments, IT and OT devices share the same flat network with no barriers between them.

We design and implement segmentation architectures that isolate OT systems from IT traffic:

• Dedicated VLANs for PLC, SCADA, HMI, and CNC controller networks
• Firewall rules controlling all traffic between IT and OT segments
• Industrial DMZs enabling data exchange (like ERP to MES communication) without direct connectivity
• Access control lists restricting which devices and users can communicate with OT systems
• Monitoring of east-west traffic between segments for anomalous activity

Proper IT/OT segmentation is also a requirement for many compliance frameworks, including NIST 800-171 and the CMMC program that defense manufacturers must meet.

Multi-Site Connectivity and VoIP

Manufacturers and operational businesses with multiple facilities need consistent, secure connectivity between sites. We design and manage multi-site network architectures using:

• SD-WAN for intelligent traffic routing across multiple internet connections and MPLS circuits
• Site-to-site VPNs providing encrypted connectivity between locations
• Centralized management ensuring consistent policies and configurations across all sites
• Unified communication systems that work seamlessly across locations

Each site connects to a unified network that provides consistent access to shared resources, centralized security management, and single-pane-of-glass monitoring.

VoIP and Unified Communications Infrastructure

Voice traffic demands network reliability that standard data applications can tolerate without. Dropped calls, jitter, and latency are immediately noticeable and directly affect customer interactions and internal coordination. We design network infrastructure that supports VoIP and unified communications with the quality of service these applications require.

Our VoIP network services include QoS policy configuration that prioritizes voice and video traffic, VLAN segmentation for voice traffic isolation, bandwidth provisioning and traffic shaping, and network assessments that verify VoIP readiness before deployment. We ensure your switches, firewalls, and wireless infrastructure deliver the consistent performance that modern communication platforms demand.

For multi-site operations, we deploy architectures that enable seamless inter-site dialing, shared directories, and consistent call handling. Calls between locations travel over your data network with enterprise-grade reliability, eliminating per-minute long distance charges and the maintenance burden of legacy PBX hardware.

Field Service and Distributed Operations

Operational businesses like HVAC, plumbing, electrical, and construction companies often operate from multiple offices, warehouses, and job sites. We design network architectures that extend secure, reliable connectivity to every location, including temporary job trailers and remote offices that need access to dispatch, CRM, and project management systems.

Your Network Deserves Expert Attention

Stop treating your network as an afterthought. The right network architecture improves performance, strengthens security, enables growth, and prevents the catastrophic outages that shut down production lines and stall field operations. Neuron has designed and managed networks for operational businesses nationwide since 2001, including manufacturers, HVAC companies, plumbing contractors, electrical contractors, and construction companies.