SMC has partnered with Software AG, a global leader in business infrastructure software, to bring you smart field analytics. SMC’s large range of IO Link compatible sensors and valve banks can now communicate directly via Dell Technologies’ Edge to a Cumulocity IoT platform. This provides secure data processing as well as real-time data analysis and visualisation.
This follows on the launch in South Africa of the company’s range of wireless valve banks that can now communicate wirelessly in IoT applications (for more information see https://www.instrumentation.co.za/10946r)
No matter what stage you are at in the digitisation process, smart field analytics enables you to benefit from our concentrated expertise, which offers the ideal perspective for maximum system availability, stable processes and new efficiency potential.
Smart field analytics can provide the following benefits:
Intelligent maintenance
Unscheduled production shutdowns cost time and money, smart field analytics can prevent this. Imagine a central cloud keeping track of every cycle of every machine in your factory. With SMC’s advanced sensors and valve banks communicating directly with the IoT cloud this is a reality. Limit factors which indicate an imminent failure of a machine can be monitored and a maintenance ticket can be logged before a breakdown occurs. This data can also be used in machine learning. An algorithm can determine time to failure and schedule a maintenance order accordingly. This can make plant maintenance smarter, more efficient and more economical.
Increased energy efficiency
Energy costs are rising, and air is quickly becoming the most expensive asset in your factory. By integrating a network of SMC flow sensors, and pressure switches and having them communicate directly with the IoT cloud, a program can monitor for air leaks, consumption peaks during start up or pressure fluctuations in the network. This data is key to promoting good energy saving practices both in the factory and on the shop floor.
Stock management
In an automated warehousing environment where a 3-axis pick and place jig is responsible for the loading and unloading of shelved items, the stock levels of each item can be monitored in the IoT cloud. Each bin location can be monitored by the position of each SMC electric actuator, in real time, and can be recorded and transmitted via Edge to the Cumulocity IoT platform. An algorithm can then generate restock orders based on minimum stock levels.
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