This text is a part of a sequence discussing the worth of machine information for store flooring administration methods. Integrating machine property into your linked manufacturing unit ecosystem unlocks correct, real-time manufacturing information that can be utilized to reinforce not solely manufacturing, however many different capabilities throughout each the store flooring and in enterprise operations, from upkeep and high quality, to quoting and planning.
Producers have traditionally relied on guide methods and legacy software program options to handle and arrange manufacturing processes.
However these methods had been typically standalone, siloed software program options that did a poor job of reaching the supposed customers.
These methods might assist to manually get information to different departments of the enterprise, however the course of was typically full of gaps. It typically concerned operators and managers gathering half counts and manually importing them at an HMI with a purpose to get the info right into a software program system for evaluation.
Consequently, one of many greatest gaps now we have seen (and proceed to see) is the silo between enterprise methods and store flooring methods.
Enterprise intelligence (BI) software program was developed to harness the facility of knowledge for all of a producer’s wants. It lets firms arrange massive quantities of uncooked information to be used in any useful space that requires it. Enduring that manufacturing information is included inside these BI instruments is kep to understanding store flooring efficiency and connecting it to enterprise efficiency.
However guide information assortment, evaluation, and add shouldn’t be slicing it. That is the place an automatic machine information assortment answer turns into helpful.
Let’s take a more in-depth have a look at BI instruments in manufacturing in addition to the affect of utilizing correct, real-time machine information to allow their efficiency.
BI Software program at Work
BI methods depend on a simple construction. The information is often saved in a cloud-based information storage platform for straightforward and cost-effective entry in comparison with older in-house information storage options.
Superior analytics present which means and construction to the info and supply actionable insights. AI can even analyze hidden developments within the information to reinforce its worth.
Customers have entry to information in numerous codecs. Knowledge could also be accessed by way of pc, HMI, and even laptop computer and cellphone, enabling workers to evaluate the KPIs mandatory for his or her job. These KPIs can cowl numerous subjects, together with finance, buyer, market, manufacturing, gross sales, and HR.
BI software program gives instruments to make information extra helpful and related to every person. Many of those instruments deal with analytics, whereas others arrange the info primarily based on relevance to the person. Many functions parse and chart information for particular disciplines for finance, engineering, planning, and so on.
Examples of BI instruments embody:
- Dashboards
- Knowledge mining
- Predictive and statistical modeling
- Stories
- Design visualization
- Scorecards
Listed below are just a few BI options now we have used right here at MachineMetrics:
- Energy BI
- Tableau
- Klipfolio
- Grafana
The Hyperlink Between Machine Knowledge and Enterprise Intelligence Instruments
Whereas enterprise intelligence instruments have highly effective capabilities, their worth might be considerably enhanced when linked to the excessive quantity and high quality of knowledge collected from machines on the store flooring.
Getting this information, after all, has traditionally been the most important problem.
Historically, many firms tracked machine information manually. Half counts, cycle instances, and downtime had been manually recorded on paper, whiteboards, and/or excel, after which had been manually uploaded to administration methods for evaluation.
This leads to delayed, inaccurate, error-laden information which tremendously hinders decision-making and stifles any probability of enabling automation.
The MachineMetrics Machine Connectivity Platform automates information assortment throughout the manufacturing unit flooring and integrates with BI software program. It standardizes and constructions information into usable codecs earlier than evaluation. The platform works with any mannequin or machine era, whether or not digital or analog.
By linking MachineMetrics to BI software program, efficiency at a number of ranges (machine, spindle, operator, division, and so on.) in addition to machine situations change into seen in real-time.
How Machine Knowledge Will increase the Worth of Enterprise Intelligence Instruments
MachineMetrics captures, standardizes, and contextualizes machine information in real-time to empower and improve the native capabilities of BI software program within the following key areas:
Knowledge Assortment
Handbook information assortment pulls down the facility of BI software program. This guide course of typically leads to errors, biases, and omissions, and contributes to information silos inside departments utilizing disparate methods, creating redundancy and overlap.
Whereas different information sources, like accounting, might have completely correct information, manufacturing information is prone to be extremely inaccurate to to the guide nature of knowledge assortment.
MachineMetrics removes this guide assortment in favor of automated information assortment on the level of manufacturing. It cleanses, constructions, and codecs information to be used in BI methods, in addition to different key store flooring administration methods.
This real-time information can then be utilized by the BI system to supply correct insights and visualization.
Planning and Scheduling
When correct information is accessible by way of BI instruments and methods, it permits higher planning and scheduling. Actual-time information on machine situations and manufacturing progress permits for predictive and prescriptive insights.
Manufacturing, labor, and job schedules are extra accessible for planning precise capability and functionality. On the identical time, will increase or decreases in demand might be predicted shortly to permit for pivots with out extreme disruption to the manufacturing schedule.
For instance, Flexco, a producer of belt fasteners, cleaners, and upkeep merchandise, makes use of machine information to align manufacturing planning and execution. This resulted in a 9% improve in total plant utilization.
Budgeting and Monetary Planning
Operational and Capex budgeting is complicated for any producer. With information assortment and superior analytics, firms can determine areas for enchancment and optimize processes. These enhancements can improve gear utilization and OEE, driving higher decision-making for capital, labor, and operations budgets.
The identical real-time information signifies that stock methods are tightly manageable on a perpetual stock foundation, and transactions are seen in real-time. BI instruments for monetary planning can deal with present information and require much less rationalizing, and they are often tied on to automated buying and correct reorder factors.
Benchmarking
It’s arduous to know the place to go once you don’t know the place you might be. Store flooring monitoring utilizing machine information means BI software program is empowered to research efficiency at a number of ranges. As a result of manufacturing information from the store flooring is correct, manufacturing organizations can set correct benchmarks for manufacturing. This benchmarking helps them set up reasonable expectations and targets.
Benchmarking additionally helps producers develop gross sales and advertising and marketing methods and perceive the place the corporate is in comparison with its rivals. The identical is true of measuring efficiency towards trade requirements.
Reporting and Evaluation
BI instruments are nice at compiling and visualizing information however lack the depth to make sure the info’s credibility and validity. With a lot information manually collected by operators and managers, BI methods alone can’t resolve the info integrity drawback.
That is the place the MachineMetrics Machine Knowledge Platform comes into play. It ensures manufacturing information is up-to-date, correct, and dependable. With a machine information platform driving high quality information to a BI software program, the BI software program is empowered to do what it does finest.
Centralized Knowledge
Disparate methods and siloed data typically trigger complications for producers. BI methods typically pull information “as is.” Knowledge could also be lacking from one system, inaccurate in one other, and lacking altogether in a 3rd.
The MachineMetrics platform is extensible to different platforms by way of API connectivity, native integrations, and webhooks. A hyperlink to MachineMetrics creates a single supply of reality by guaranteeing that when manufacturing information is shipped to a number of methods, equivalent to high quality, MES, and CMMS, all of them obtain the identical data.
Enhance Your BI Instruments with MachineMetrics
MachineMetrics lowers price, drives course of enchancment, and will increase effectivity and productiveness. The platform provides worth to BI software program instruments, enabling them to perform at a considerably larger accuracy price.
With entry to correct manufacturing information, your MES, ERP, BI, and different administration and evaluation options change into that rather more efficient.
Study extra about constructing a best-of-breed tech stack in manufacturing to allow a very linked manufacturing unit.
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