In process manufacturing, production efficiency in the plants is everything.
PlantmatiQ's "Quantimo" predictive maintenance system gathers historical data (structured and unstructured, machine- and non-machine-based) to generate insights that can’t be observed with conventional means/systems.
This data can be used to determine the circumstances that cause a machine to break down. In addition, input data can be monitored and intervene before a breakdown happens, or be ready to replace it when it does. In this way downtime is minimized.
Predictive maintenance typically reduces machine downtime by 30 - 50% and increases machine life by 20 - 40%.
Problem
For many manufacturers, it is difficult to know the actual efficiency of your machines.
When procduction quota are not met and the orders start piling up, you need data to tell you what is going wrong.
Are the machines underperforming? Are the workers taking 2 hour breaks?
Wesan Druktechniek in Almelo was wondering this exact thing.
Is there a way to monitor the output all my printing machines without having to do costly upgrades on the control system?
Will it cost me downtime on my machines?
Answer is:
Yes! It is possible and No! It will not cost any downtime implementing a solution!
Solution
We built a WiFi product counter!
This device can be connected in line with an already existing sensor. By just disconnecting the current sensor cable from the sensor and plugging it into this device, it will count all products which were seen by the already existing sensor.
It will then send the count values using wifi to our central monitoring server.