Smart Factory and T&M

December 1, 2020 4:53 pm

In a smart factory, T&M instruments are used to collect actionable data that may be used to reduce defects and maximize efficiency within the manufacturing line.

Smart factories aim to reduced unplanned downtime, lower maintenance costs, extension of asset life, improved asset utilization, increased production output through sensor based monitoring, machine to machine communication, AI, ML and big data analysis. The major advantage a smart factory is going to have is the quick and accurate information flow to the right persons involved in the process. This means the maintenance related condition and related productivity information are monitored and passed to the relevant persons instantly. This also calls for an alert maintenance team with fully-equipped test and measurement (T&M) capability and expertise to fix the issues on a real time basis which needs to be facilitated through the T&M instruments, said Prabhakaran PV, Head – Product Management, Fluke India. He adds, “To meet these new challenges, the T&M instruments need to be smart too.”

Kalidas Bhangare, Managing Director, Testo India Pvt. Ltd also opines: “Testing and measurement of parameters in any segment is very crucial as it directly impacts the performance and efficiency of the set up.” Preventive maintenance of equipment, reliability of the components and optimum output of the systems are all dependent on proper monitoring of the facility. While progressing in the digital hemisphere of Industry 4.0, the role of T&M instruments becomes equally consequential in the smart factories as well, observes Mr Bhangare. He adds, “In order to integrate physical processes with smart systems, smart factories would surely require remote monitoring of the machines. Similarly, secure data storage and data transfer of multiple values or measurement readings is significant, which can only be achieved by introducing right online data monitoring devices. Smart tools for performance testing of VAC systems or troubleshooting of important electrical as well as mechanical assets would always be the priority. Additionally, in case of standard non-compliance or unforeseen adversities, T&M instruments can aid in the mitigation process.”

According to Mr Prabhakaran, smart factories are going to create a kind of disruption in the way the current T&M instruments are used or work and will force the T&M players to adopt the required technology to meet the Industry 4.0 requirements soon. Industry 4.0 or smart factories calls for smart test and measurement tools to meet these new challenges and look forward to the T&M tools which can do the test requirements and analysis part and communicate remotely. Such features will enable the user to ensure the data integrity and co-relation of their sensor based system and the measurements they are taking with the hand held or field T&M instruments. “With all these changes, we are sure that the role of accurate, reliable and smart T&M equipment is going to be more relevant and important in smart factories than before. Such instruments are already available with companies like Fluke,” Mr Prabhakaran adds.

How Testo gauges the opportunity for T&M business in the smart factory segment
Testo is well-known for its continuous initiatives in developing as well as implementing smart and intuitive measuring solutions in the industry. In a smart factory set up with cyber-physical systems enabled to communicate with each other via IoT, WiFi or other automated systems, testo T&M instruments would play a vital role to carry out seamless and efficient operation of the systems. Advanced data monitoring and parameter measurements can be easily achieved with these instruments, informs Mr Bhangare.

Testo brings out its latest and the smartest testing and measuring solutions such as the Smart Probes which equips the users with smart and easy measurement techniques. These can be wirelessly and intuitively operated by smartphone via a free App. For HVAC applications, measurement with on-site reporting is now more mobile than ever before. Similarly, testo Saveris 2 Wi-Fi data logger system is the simple, flexible and reliable solution to humidity and temperature monitoring during production, QA, warehousing and other critical application, as well as during workflow processes. With a secure online storage of all readings in Testo Cloud the data can be managed and analysed online by the user via smartphone, tablet or PC anywhere and anytime. In case of crises and deviations, it automatically generates and sends alarm by e-mail, or optionally by SMS.

Testo Saveris 2 has replaced time-consuming manual data monitoring and documentation system. Testo smart and networked thermal imagers are an ideal tool for predictive maintenance of equipment, machines and their components. From electrical panels to mechanical parts, thermal inspection can be easily carried out using these advanced thermal cameras. Especially in smart factories where efficiency is must, timely troubleshooting can reduce wastage, facility downtime and accidents. With so many T&M products in our basket and necessary respective applications, it becomes almost certain that the opportunities are plenty, said Mr Bhangare.

How Fluke gauges the opportunity for T&M business in the smart factory segment
Founded in 1948, Fluke Corporation offers compact, professional electronic test tools and software for measuring and condition monitoring. Commenting on how Fluke is gauging the opportunity for its T&M business in the smart factory segment, Mr Prabhakaran said, “Fluke had foreseen the Industry 4.0 maintenance requirements way back in 2013! We started putting the resources in developing Industry 4.0 competent T&M tools.”

Since it launched its first Fluke connect device in 2013, Fluke has ensured that most of the new products like Vibration Analysers, Thermal Imagers, Power Quality Analysers, etc. – that it’s launching are enabled with connectivity and AI so as to facilitate the smart engineers to resolve problems rapidly. This gives Fluke a shot in the arm to embark on the Industry 4.0 bandwagon in a gigantic way.

“As Fluke has the largest basket of connected T&M devices powered with Fluke connect feature, it enables the customer to address the T&M needs and also communicate with their systems through minimum manual intervention and errors,” claims Mr Prabhakaran.

He adds, “We are sure that this is a great opportunity to meet the demands of smart T&M devices from the smart factory in the coming years. For Fluke, with its capability to churn out the most accurate, reliable and safe test tools combined with the new technology communication and AI and the largest basket of smart tools, this is clearly an opportunity to win.”

While progressing in the digital hemisphere of Industry 4.0, the role of T&M instruments becomes equally consequential in the smart factories as well.
Kalidas Bhangare, Managing Director, Testo India Pvt. Ltd.

Smart factories are going to create a kind of disruption in the way the current T&M instruments are used or work and will force the T&M players to adopt the required technology to meet the Industry 4.0 requirements soon.
Prabhakaran PV, Head – Product Management, Fluke India