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TECH N O LO GY | TA LK

In today’s fluctuating business environment, manufacturers are always juggling to maintain profitability. This can be done by adopting lean manufacturing techniques to eliminate waste at every stage of the manufacturing process. As such, mobile solutions for shop floors can be an effective tool to streamline manufacturing processes. This leads to more effective utilisation of work force, machines and materials.

Currently, with the help of smart technologies in the industrial landscape, the use of smartphone and tablets is encouraging the growth of applications designed for them. The manufacturing applications designed, are now being used to implement business strategies, such as lean manufacturing and supply-chain management. Such applications installed for manufacturing facilities not only fastens decision making, but also improves communication and workflow. A few examples of companies adopting such applications include CAM2

Applying smart business solutionsWith rapid evolution of technology, manufacturing industry witnesses a technology-savvy business strategy, which includes applying mobile solutions for shop floors, which can be an effective tool to streamline manufacturing processes. The feature highlights the manufacturing applications that are used today to implement lean manufacturing and supply-chain management.

Measure 10 from Faro; CoolanTool™ from Quaker Chemicals; Robot Studio Online from ABB and Swivel Optimiser from Schunk.

Why smart applications?

It goes without saying that mobility is pre-requisite for manufacturers. It is one such technology that allows people to access information while “on the go” and at the same time, ensuring efficient decision making. The mobile applications deployed on smart phones and tablet enables integration with various IT systems to provide means of increased visibility, which in turn leads to speed up effective decision making. It also helps manufacturers address productivity and visibility.

However, companies using such apps should have proper IT training to be exposed to programming languages, such as

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y: Shutterstock Megha Roy Features Writer [email protected]

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SCHUNK Swivel OptimiSer

The SCHUNK Swivel Optimiser is the first app worldwide for adjusting pneumatic rotary units. It allows fast and easy calculation of the optimal pressure and shock absorber pa-rameters for every individual rotation process. One can upload the app to a

normal smartphone, mount the smartphone at any position on the setup, select the corresponding rotary unit in the app and activate the rotary movement in the system controller. During the rotary movement, the app compares the actual parameters with optimal values, calculates the necessary corrections for the pressure and shock absorber stroke and recommends in detail the changes that need to made to the valve or the stroke adjustment. It takes only a few measurement runs to set and verify the optimal parameters for the rotary unit.

rittal ritHerm Climate CONtrOl

RiTherm smartphone app carries out enclosure climate control calculations on the move. For project-planning, the optimum climate control solution can be done in 5 easy steps: project title (reference line for e-mail),

parameter, enclosure, selection and recommendation. The app for Android and iPhones handles the time-consuming process of calculating climate control requirements for individual enclosure assemblies. With its fast selection feature, the app provides a compact variant of the full software version “Therm 6.2”. As such, the result can be sent quickly and easily as an e-mail. A user-friendly interface guides the operator to the most suitable, correctly dimensioned climate control component using the typical smartphone controls.

Objective-C for iOS or Java for Android. Regarding security, when apps are implemented, personal devices are integrated with the company’s network, adding another network portal that may be vulnerable to virtual intruders. As such, employers need to be concerned about employees losing personal devices containing company data. The potential for malware infecting the corporate network through smartphones and tablets is yet another concern.

Next generation mobility-based solutions

According to a recent survey by L&T Infotech, the key drivers for mobility on the shop floor are productivity, visibility and process improvement. For most manufacturers, the initial drive for implementing mobility on the shop floor comes from the need to increase productivity of its workforce. Applications that facilitate significant time-saving techniques for end users find high rates of adoption in the manufacturing industry. Typical examples of such applications are the one which automate paperbound processes, remove errors due to manual data entry, allow quick access to job-specific instructions and perform approvals and submissions. The other significant drive for mobility is propelled by the increasing need of managers and key decision makers to access mission critical information on the go. In the complex global supply chains, the need to monitor production data is of equal importance for both internal and external stakeholders in the supply chain. Mobile applications that provide easy access to critical production data like WIP (Work in Progress) status, scrap and rework rate, machine performance, inventory levels, etc can facilitate faster decision making and better co-ordination among various stakeholders of the manufacturing supply

chain. When it comes to lean manufacturing, the next generation

of mobility based solutions can be used to optimise existing manufacturing practices to eliminate waste at every stage of the production process. Mobility-based solutions can be used to enhance operational efficiency by better utilisation of man, machine and materials. So, manufacturing executives are becoming proactive in protecting against plant downtime with better maintenance practices.

Bertil Thorvaldsson, Global Product Manager—Software Products, Robotics Business Area, ABB, believes that with evolution, technology breakthrough is taking centre stage, and it’s the same in the manufacturing arena. “Our company has come up with Robot Studio online that operates on several robotic simulation and has an action plan that includes backup,


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> mOre@CliCK em01612 | www.efficientmanufacturing.in

update, re-date, re-start and set time. It has a remote support and comes in tab and holding device,” he said.

Speaking on the risk & safety measures in manufacturing facilities, connecting robots to clouds, connecting all robots internally and wireless devices connected to robots are some suggested measures.

Smart App in manufacturing

Success in the manufacturing sector depends on optimising workflow. Market conditions change as companies develop new lean production methods, invest in R&D, grow more globally dispersed supply chains and refine product lifecycle management processes. Smart business solutions can help by changing the way one shares and works with digital information. So, one can communicate effectively with teams and suppliers in the same facility or around the world. In addition, being aware of the application adds to functionality and connectivity of the manufacturing system. This is time saving as one has to spend less time on the shop floor and more time on the virtual floor. “For updating system and investment on cloud segment, the remote service provided by ABB is box-retrofitted to robots and also useful for control system. The main USP of our device is the hacking virus that acts as a safety or licensing technology. It also has a virtual simulation that connects various devices,” added Thorvaldsson.

According to research from Micromanufcaturing, there are three main options for companies that want to implement a mobile app: develop one internally, have a developer write one or purchase an off-the-shelf solution that can be customised. The next big decision is whether to use “native” apps designed for different smartphone operating systems (such as Android, iOS or Blackberry) or a web-based application.

The need to adopt smart applications in the manufacturing facilities accounts to integration with machines and plant

FarO Cam2 meaSUre 10 SOFtware

Faro’s CAM2 Measure 10 is the the company’s all-in-one metrology software for users that are looking for a single, complete solution for probing and scanning tasks, without the need of any additional

software. Designed with inspection in mind, it can be used in combination with a Faro scanning device, such as the Faro ScanArm, providing state-of-the-art functionalities for CAD-to-Part analysis. The software is perfectly suited for tasks such as the inspection of free and complex forms and even soft or flexible materials that are difficult to inspect with a tactile system. With this, Apple App, iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad owners can communicate with their CAM2 Measure 10 via WLAN and thus conduct remote measurement.

qUaKer CHemiCal’S COOlaNtOOl™

CoolanTool™ is the first mobile app to facilitate the monitoring processes for metalworking fluids, and organise information. It can be registered in the CNC machines and track of coolant concentration can be kept. pH

values are displayed in graphs. A complete troubleshooting guide for quick and easy problem solving is also included. The features include monitoring pH and concentration for fluid condition, tracking results graphically, exporting data to MS Excel and calculating machine consumption, troubleshooting tool, which is available in English, Chinese, French, German and Russian. The benefits include recording results digitally in one place, illustrating control of chemicals to the local health & safety executive and conducting analysis and performance comparisons across multiple machines.

automation, security & interference concerns and converting paper-based plant logs into electronic log books. Thus, using such technology simplifies data visualisation, embed sensors, receive real-time information, mobility and cloud deployment. This will let the manufacturers achieve a higher customer satisfaction, service innovation and profitability, thereby evolving from smart manufacturing to manufacturing smart! ☐
