This article appeared in the Sep/Oct 2023 issue of MiMfg Magazine. Read the full issue and find past issues online.

In the dynamic landscape of modern manufacturing, real-time monitoring has emerged as a crucial component, revolutionizing the way businesses operate.

Traditional condition monitoring approaches, heavily reliant on manual inspection, are becoming less effective due to their susceptibility to human errors and inherent inefficiencies.

As businesses worldwide move toward Industry 4.0, the fusion of advanced technologies with manufacturing processes takes centre stage. Let’s dive into what real-time monitoring entails and how it benefits Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) and other manufacturing industries, enhancing production, Original Equipment Equivalent (OEE) and more.

Understanding Real-Time Monitoring?

Real-time monitoring is the continuous and proactive collection and analysis of data from multiple sources, including machines, sensors and production lines. This constant data flow provides up-to-the-minute insights, enabling businesses to make prompt and informed decisions.

At its core, real-time monitoring acts as a nerve centre, facilitating seamless connectivity between machines and the cloud.

The Bridge to the Future: Advanced IoT Integration

The seamless integration of machine and plant data with the cloud is pivotal to unlocking the true potential of Industry 4.0. An advanced Internet of Things (IoT) gateway serves as the bridge between the physical and digital worlds, facilitating the secure and efficient transfer of data. This integration propels manufacturing operations into the era of smart manufacturing.

How Real Time Monitoring works?

From the image below, we see that the IoT gateway acts as a robust bridge, fetching critical data from Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs), Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES) and Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems on your machines. This invaluable data is securely transmitted to the cloud, where it undergoes real-time analysis, empowering data-driven decisions for optimized efficiency and productivity.

Implementing real-time machine monitoring offers a multitude of benefits that can help address various manufacturing challenges. Let’s explore some key points on how this technology can be a game-changer for your operations:

1. Visibility into Production Performance
   Real-time machine monitoring provides instant visibility into production performance, enabling you to track machine uptime, downtime and overall equipment effectiveness in real-time. This empowers you to identify bottlenecks and inefficiencies, leading to better decision-making for improved productivity.
2. Data-Driven Decision-making
   With automated data collection and real-time visualizations, OEE software ensures accurate and reliable data. Armed with comprehensive insights, you can make data-driven decisions for optimizing your production processes, reducing reliance on guesswork.
3. Proactive Issue Identification
   Real-time machine monitoring software allows you to detect potential issues as they arise. You can receive instant notifications for critical events, enabling your team to take immediate action to prevent downtime and reduce production losses.
4. Quality Improvement
   The real-time monitoring not only helps machine efficiency but also monitors quality metrics. By identifying quality issues in real-time, you can implement corrective actions promptly, improving product quality and reducing waste.
5. Enhanced Shop Floor Communication
   Real-time machine monitoring facilitates better communication on the shop floor. Operators and supervisors can access real-time data, fostering collaboration and enabling timely responses to production challenges.
6. Empowering Continuous Improvement
   Armed with a comprehensive understanding of production data, OEE software empowers your team to initiate continuous improvement initiatives. These data-backed efforts drive operational excellence and foster a culture of innovation.
7. Cost Savings
   Machine monitoring systems can lead to significant cost savings for manufacturers through enhanced productivity, minimized downtime, and optimized maintenance schedules.

In conclusion, real-time machine monitoring system offers a robust set of tools to address manufacturing challenges and drive operational excellence.

By embracing this technology, you can unlock a wealth of data-driven insights, make informed decisions, and propel your manufacturing operations to new heights of success.

About the Author

Senthil Kumar Deivasigamany is the Director of MN Engineering Solutions Inc. and an accomplished leader with a proven track record of building and growing businesses from scratch. He may be reached at senthil.kumar@mnengineeringsolutions.com.

MN Engineering Solutions is an MMA Basic Associate Member and has been an MMA member company since January 2023.