Digitalization, for example from Siemens, can be implemented at every level of machine tool operation today.
With the machine tool industry in flux currently, as it seeks to find its way into the digital world, the entire process chain necessitates the integration of suppliers who can respond to the needs of the industry. The situation has very little "history" and so large end-customers and machine shops of all sizes are seeking assistance from their suppliers, while the machine tool builders are likewise seeking to partner with hardware, software, communications and controls suppliers to bring the most needed machine types to market.
Within this scenario, the large manufacturers focus on the big picture as they link their production departments, often located in different cities or even countries throughout the supply chain, while the small contract manufacturer with a dozen local customers wonders how this drive to the digital factory will impact their world and it will. The good news is they can already utilize the IT, apps and communication devices onboard many of today's advanced machine tools and the rapidly emerging skill sets of new workers in the machine tool industry to develop and implement the three basic levels of machine shop operations.
These levels comprise the communications hardware and protocols at the machine, the integration of inline machine production and the data resident in the cloud, which can be used today in many ways to boost productivity through automated analytics of the shop floor's utilization; to enhance shop floor flexibility through optimized methods of production; and to preserve data security by state-of-the-art software solutions. In essence, the capture and manipulation of such data drives the productivity of a small shop or large production department in quite similar ways. The concept of manufacturing seen as an eco-system, with information and control capabilities at all levels, can drive that "factory of the future" and, the good news, it can do so today.
From the CNC on your machines, whether they are number three in a mold shop or three hundred at a transmission plant, users can extract the pre-analytics that can be used to feed existing apps or to develop the most beneficial apps to suit the production scheme and workflow. The beauty of the app, whether created by the user, developed by a third-party integrator or existing solution is used, is that it provides the hierarchy of information to the operator, line supervisor, plant operations personnel or global IT department in a similar manner. This scalability offers immediate benefit to manufacturers of all sizes and it does so, right now. For example, machine tool users can quickly and easily configure a CNC machine's connections and ascertain its program status and operating mode. This will lead to increased manufacturing productivity, reliability and availability of the machine.
Cloud-based systems always raise the question of security issues, as the data flow in real time at high-speed and can be made accessible to many levels of information managers and operations personnel. It is critical that a thorough assessment of the access to that data precede the development of any communications protocol.
Digitalization is not necessarily a costly undertaking. First steps can be quickly implemented on the shop floor, for example, through the use of small PCs like Raspberry Pi. Likewise, for the machine tool builder, the development of digital twin engineering, where a machine is fully designed, commissioned and test run in a virtual environment, is rapidly changing the playing field in this industry.
The number of connected machines is increasing exponentially and this is not simply engineering adornment, it is a necessary function for any manufacturer. Being able to quickly determine the Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) and conduct practical, beneficial predictive maintenance actions on machines will contribute greatly to the production and profitability of an operation.
The management of today's manufacturing shops and production departments have the challenge to become aware of all these available technologies and chart a course for their implementation. This is not a "someday" scenario; it is a vital journey for shops of all sizes, if they want to remain competitive in today's changing market.
Lastly, look at digitalization as an umbrella for the secure shielding of smart data, not just big data. IIoT is the essential connectivity for all the elements of data on machine performance, materials flow, operations efficiency and ultimately overall productivity.
Authored by Ramona Schindler, Siemens Industry, Inc.
For more information contact:
John Meyer
Siemens Industry, Inc.
Drive Technologies - Motion Control
390 Kent Avenue
Elk Grove Village, IL 60007
847-640-1595
siemensmtbumarcom.sea@siemens.com
www.usa.siemens.com/cnc