Edge of Innovation: Maximizing Data Efficiency with the Industrial Edge Platform
In the last years, with the advent of Industry 4.0 technologies, everything has become interconnected -- products, production machines, software systems, and the people involved in the production. There is constant communication among these entities, leading to an immense amount of data ready to be processed. Typically, the processing occurs centrally in data centers or cloud infrastructures located hundreds or thousands of kilometers away from the data source. But why expose ourselves to the risk of data loss during this lengthy data transfer? Why burden our data centers with unprocessed data from all corners of the globe?
As a solution to these challenges, the concept of edge computing emerged – a computing method dedicated to bringing data processing closer to its source. Enter Industrial Edge, a platform developed by Siemens, which operationalizes this method. The primary objective of Industrial Edge is to preprocess the majority of data at the edge of the shopfloor, offering a detailed analysis of products and production lines at any given moment. To accomplish this, the platform offers a multitude of applications designed for all the data processing requirements of a factory.
At evosoft Hungary Kft., we sought to leverage the capabilities of the Industrial Edge platform and its applications, showcasing their usability to customers on our production line at the Digital Experience Centre, located in our Budapest office. Consequently, we have developed solutions for various use cases, relying on these applications, spanning performance analysis, energy efficiency and maintenance monitoring.
For performance analysis, we utilized the Performance Insight application. This tool enables us to calculate Key Performance Indicators (KPI) values using the data coming from the PLC controlling the production line. We created dashboards displaying the processed data, assessed overall equipment effectiveness and generated status mappings for the different stations. These efforts contributed to a more optimized production process.
To enhance the energy efficiency of our production line, we relied on the Energy Manager application for help. Similar to the Performance Insight application, this tool allowed us to calculate KPI values using data from an Energy Meter module connected to the PLC. As a result, we assessed energy usage data for various sections of the production line, created dashboards for visualization, and quantified these associated costs and carbon dioxide emissions.
To implement maintenance monitoring, we employed the Machine Monitor application. Within this application, we established maintenance rules based on various usage parameters such as mileage or operating minutes. These rules were then associated with specific parts of the production line, to determine and schedule necessary maintenance tasks. Additionally, the application generated a maintenance logbook, and we have the capability to send notifications about the maintenance deadlines via email using the Notifier application.
In addition to solutions built on existing applications, there is an option to develop custom applications using Flow Creator, an application built on the Node-RED low-code programming tool. We actively use Flow Creator for data preprocessing and visualization. Moreover, there is an opportunity to develop applications outside of the Industrial Edge platform, for instance, using the Mendix application development platform and deploy them within your Industrial Edge environment.
As you can tell by now, the versatility of the Industrial Edge platform in data processing is extensive and continues to expand each day, all aimed at providing you with a detailed view of your production environment and assisting in its optimization. If any of the applications or solutions developed on the Industrial Edge platform have piqued your interest, please feel free to contact us.
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Gábor Kozó - Program Manager (LinkedIn)
