Sitting on a goldmine: The untapped value of plant floor data
Across the plant floor, a complex mix of interconnected machines, processes and technologies yields seemingly endless opportunities for make-or-break decisions. And if you're like a lot of manufacturing leaders we hear from, you know those decisions impact everything from operational productivity and quality control to safety, production schedules, and resource management. Hesitate for a moment and you might find yourself facing a domino effect of consequences leading to equipment breakdowns, lost time, late orders and a whole lot of frustration. While that domino effect scenario is a worst case, and one that's probably never far from your mind, it is still a possibility even in times of smooth sailing.
But what if there was a way to help ensure the right decision, at the right time, based on something you probably already have? The answer lies in your data. Modern manufacturing equipment, combined with the right software, has the potential to unearth huge volumes of data that can be aggregated and analyzed in real time. This can help you spot clear-cut opportunities to improve asset function, accelerate production, assess risk, streamline workflows—and the list goes on. Even the slightest nudge in one of these areas has the potential to yield significant savings.
Data scientist not required
Luckily, getting the most value from your asset data doesn't mean you have to hire a data scientist. Plex Asset Performance Management (APM) by Rockwell Automation does the work for you. Plex APM works by contextualizing, integrating, and applying real-time equipment data and built-in analytics to capture and visualize insights on machine health and performance. Then you can easily compare machines against a desired state, adjust accordingly, and even generate early notifications of potential disruptions so you can address them before they become costly.
Monitor machine health to reduce unplanned downtime and improve throughput
Plex APM helps your enterprise avoid production disruption by connecting shop floor performance data to maximize production and operational visibility. That means fewer surprises for you and more on-time orders for your customers.
Here are just some of the ways Plex APM delivers results:
It establishes connectivity to virtually any asset or data stream, helping you analyze trends and compare operational data against other KPIs to discover new opportunities for improvement. Pre-built, intuitive dashboards allow you to view real-time status at the asset or plant level, so you're always aware of which machines are off, in-cycle, idle, experiencing a problem, or something else.
Learning from past disruptions is one of the best ways to prevent future bottlenecks, unplanned stoppages, and unnecessary rework. Plex APM technology can provide historical views of logged asset status and event logs that make it easy to visualize data over time with graphical trend lines, so you're better prepared to make informed decisions based on previous occurrences.
If you're interested in learning more about Asset Performance Management, visit our page on Plex APM by Rockwell Automation - click here! Plex APM is just one component of the Plex Smart Manufacturing Platform, a fully integrated, end-to-end solution that powers your entire enterprise. Contact us to learn more.