Digitalisation in manufacturing: Location-independent real-time monitoring with IoT, MES & digital twin

The foundations of a smart factory are interconnected machines, plants and IT systems that exchange information (e.g. machine statuses, malfunctions, temperature, power consumption, order data) via the internet (Internet of Things - IoT). By collecting, bundling and analysing this data with the help of an MES system, companies are able to monitor their manufacturing process in real time, regardless of location, and detect maintenance cases at an early stage. The prerequisite for this is the linking of the company's IT systems.

Monitoring can be done even better with the help of a digital twin. This corresponds to the 3D image of a machine or entire production environment and is based on the associated design data. Enriched with sensor data from machines (e.g. temperature, pressure) and information from other IT systems (ERP, PDM, MES system), the design data becomes a dynamic image that combines real machine parameters and key production figures in real time. The sensor technology can be already present in machines or retrofitted within the scope of a retrofit with the help of IoT gateways in a cost-effective and time-saving manner.

Possible applications and advantages of IoT and digital twin:
- Clear real-time monitoring for monitoring and optimisation of own or customer-implemented machines and production environments.
- Early detection of problems, wear or maintenance cases and predictive elimination (predictive maintenance)
- Clear display of real-time KPIs as a basis for timely and informed business decisions
- Process automation with the help of workflows
- Tools for quality assurance and thus increasing productivity and process reliability

We support you in analysis, consulting and implementation. Get a first impression of your personal potentials in our free digitalisation workshop.

Image Source: N+P Informationssysteme GmbH