Page 84 - MetalForming October 2017

For Error-Proof Manufacturing,
There’s IIoT
Early adopters of IIoT are driving improved efficiencies in operations by preventing production mistakes.
The Industrial Internet of Things can save manufacturers from costly mistakes by making the right connections on the shop floor.
Two-billion dollars. That’s what Toyota spent from 2009 to 2011 to recall more than 9 million cars due to accel- erator pedal-related issues. While most metal-manu- facturing mistakes aren’t that costly, when they occur metal manufacturers lose money on scrapped materials and correc- tions, miss customer delivery dates, and even face steep fines.
Fortunately, there’s a modern-day weapon to guard against such mistakes: The Industrial Internet of Things. The IIOT has enabled important advances in monitoring different aspects of manufacturing operations to detect and prevent errors by integrating equipment controls and smart devices. On the shop floor it looks like this: Process equipment and devices—including sensors via wired or wireless network- ing—are connected to capture a range of measurements. These may include time, speed, temperature, pressure, flow, voltage and current. The measurements can be used for analysis and reporting in software systems to help managers monitor and adjust production.
Ed Potoczak is director of industry relations at IQMS, Paso Robles, CA; 805/227-1122, www.iqms.com.
Early adopters of IIoT are driving improved efficiencies in operations by preventing production mistakes. These common errors include making the right product at the wrong time; building the wrong product at the right time; misidentifying products; or in the worst-case scenario, mak- ing nonconforming products. Preventing these mistakes minimizes wasted material and labor while solidifying cus- tomer goodwill.
Required Resources
Metalforming and fabrication companies can ensure cor- rect on-time production with connected monitoring that incorporates real-time, actionable information from the setup of the work center as preparations are made to run the next scheduled work order.
What are the resources necessary for putting connected monitoring processes in place beyond confirming the source materials and components?
First, it is critical to have capable equipment with the specified tooling and fixtures available. Also, have trained and authorized operators present to run the equipment.
BY ED POTOCZAK
82 MetalForming/October 2017
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