CONNECTIVITY

Connectivity in manufacturing refers to the infrastructure that allows you to connect your machine tools. This process can provide you with increased visibility of manufacturing efficiency and the ability to remotely access machine-gathered data.

On the shop floor, connectivity leads to efficiency. Manufacturers are always looking to increase productivity and reduce downtime – without a view into a machine tool’s data, it’s difficult to understand the changes to make gains in efficiency.

To discuss connectivity, we must talk about IIoT (Industrial Internet of Things) and Industry 4.0. These are the two main organizational systems that guide connectivity principles and shape the manufacturing industry.

INDUSTRY 4.0

The idea of Industry 4.0 was first introduced in 2015 – it outlined four designed principles to support companies in identifying and implementing connectivity scenarios: interconnection, information transparency, technical assistance, and decentralized decisions. Industry 4.0 is primarily a factor in European manufacturing, though it has applications globally. With a focus on automation and data exchange in manufacturing, Industry 4.0 encourages technological advancements to improve manufacturing processes, including cloud computing, smart sensors, and artificial intelligence.

IIOT

IIoT in its current form arose after the emergence of cloud technology in 2002 and acts as a framework that supports the interaction between machines and connectivity tools. While Industry 4.0 focuses on manufacturing, IIoT is concerned with anything that can be connected to the internet and has a more global reach.

Manually collecting data on the shop floor can be a tedious, time-consuming process requiring an operator to walk the shop floor and physically interact with each machine’s interface to gather data. With connectivity, this type of activity is eliminated because data is automatically gathered in a format that works for you.

Data is collected in real-time, so there is no lag in information collected, and there is no chance of skewing the data through manipulation to make any data collected appear more favorable.

Experience all the benefits connectivity can bring to your shop floor, including:

• Increased Visibility: Gain the ability to monitor every machine on your shop floor, see machine statuses, and know when maintenance is needed.
• Reduced Downtime: Predicting when maintenance needs to be performed on your machines means you can plan downtime and reduce unexpected downtime.
• Data Collection: With Okuma’s easily accessible control, you can customize the data you want to collect from each machine.
• Traceability: Recording process information for traceability requirements can be made easier and automatic.
• Data Transfer: Input machining programs and machining parameters (tool data) automatically and accurately.
• Customized Reports: Connecting your machines allows you to view your machine’s reports however you want them formatted with the exact data you need.
• Remote Monitoring: With remote data monitoring via a tablet or mobile device, operators can stay in-the-know about what’s happening on the shop floor at all times.

If you’re not always in the know about each machine’s exact utilization, your productivity is probably lower than you think it is. Connecting your machines helps to expose these problems – you’ll be able to see the status of all your machines, gather data on performance, and enact change based on what you’re able to see, increasing productivity without sacrificing quality.

Connectivity is applicable to a variety of industries since all manufacturers can benefit from increased shop floor visibility in order to reduce downtime and increase productivity.

Especially in scenarios when machines often need to be remotely monitored, connectivity can play a large part in keeping the shop floor running efficiently.

For manufacturers in industries with a strong need for robust data collection and the need to meet traceability requirements, such as aerospace manufacturers, connectivity is a particularly strong asset since this simplifies the data collection process and enables you to format reports exactly as you need them.

Depending on the machine and connectivity tools you use, the process of connecting your machines can vary. Most connectivity tools operate on a remote, cloud-based server, while some operate in-house.

An advantage to connectivity is that it often doesn’t need any additional resources or training – once it’s implemented, it’s ready to go.

Different companies will want different levels of connectivity and visibility depending on their size and the type of data they’re looking to collect, so it can be helpful to start with small steps and work your way up. At a base level, collecting machine status is a universal connectivity need that can help any type of shop –a red, yellow, and green machine status indicator is a universal tool that gives you an instant visualization of your machines’ status.

Once you’ve set up your machine, it’s important to narrow down the data points you think will be most helpful to you. Oftentimes, manufacturers have a desire to collect every possible data point even though many won’t apply to their operations. Paring down to the most usable information will allow you to get the most out of your data gathering.

Connectivity is easy with Okuma, no matter what avenue you take – since Okuma’s control is a PC, it’s simple to connect and run. Explore the different types of connectivity tools that may benefit your shop floor.

Every machine has an Ethernet port – no additional hardware or cost is needed to connect, and connecting to your IT or OT network is simple, with no special requirements.

Ethernet connectivity allows you to begin using Okuma and Partner data handling solutions easily.