Rising energy costs and more demanding sustainability legislation are prompting companies to reassess their processes and seek new tools and technologies to reduce energy waste and overcome the challenges in today's industrial environments.
Fluke today shares the top three trends that are improving operational efficiencies in today's industrial environments.
The challenges facing industrial operations managers due to the pandemic have been replaced by the rising cost of energy and the need to achieve net zero emissions. The price of energy does not stop increasing, which is why the need to reduce costs and offer shared sustainability objectives is accentuated, both among small and medium-sized companies and in large companies.
Paul Feenstra, vice president of Fluke EMEA, stated: "We are working together with our customers to drive new initiatives to improve operations, increase efficiency and take reliability to a new level in the XNUMXst century."
Reduce energy costs with more advanced technology and cloud-based data monitoring
Approximately 90% of all companies use compressed air in some of their operations, to such an extent that it is often referred to as the supply four. Recent developments in industrial acoustic chamber technology have made it possible to quickly identify leaks in compressed air systems used in industrial and manufacturing environments. The Fluke ii900 Industrial Acoustic Camera incorporates a microphone array that displays a sound map over a wider field of view and up to 70 meters away, so maintenance crews can visually locate air leaks very quickly and accurate in compressed air systems.
Along with the improvement of portable rugged instruments, monitoring methods are also evolving with the use of internet-connected instruments. Analysis and data is captured on a cloud platform, allowing operators to monitor compressed air system key performance indicators (KPIs) such as power, electricity, flow, pressure and leakage rate. Fluke's LeakQ™ Report Generator creates detailed air compressor leak reports from images captured by the Fluke ii900 or ii910 Precision Acoustic Camera and calculates energy savings after leaks are repaired.
Use of data for predictive maintenance
Maintenance professionals have used preventative maintenance for generations to prevent equipment breakdown and have turned to reactive maintenance when assets fail. With the rise of IIoT (Industrial Internet of Things) technologies, maintenance professionals can now connect instruments, software, and sensors to collect, store, and analyze multiple data sources in one place. The pandemic accelerated investment in technologies that enable remote monitoring. Technology enables reliability and maintenance teams to meet deadlines regardless of available staff. The trend towards remote monitoring will continue and small-scale operations will turn to remote condition monitoring services.
Artificial intelligence and machine learning hold their promise to quickly identify trends and quickly adapt to changing trading conditions. Software endowed with prescriptive analytics is finally joining modern condition monitoring hardware to spark a revolution in the use of artificial intelligence and machine learning in maintenance operations.
Now there is a race to combine hardware and software with machine learning algorithms and artificial intelligence. Companies like Fluke are working to bring these technologies together so that the software can identify trends, recognize patterns in data, and make concrete recommendations for equipment maintenance.
Integration of Digital SI speeds in critical equipment measurements
Accelerated penetration of digital measurement solutions for industrial applications can save time and money, as well as facilitate a shift to predictive system maintenance. Although modern digital measurement devices are not typically plug-and-play solutions, the increased number of digital measurement solutions makes it easier to implement verification technologies, which can help simplify maintenance for personnel without compromising reliability. accuracy or reliability.
Digital SI (International System of Units), an initiative created as part of the industry 4.0 revolution, consists of the creation of a globalized system to transmit calibration certification information electronically. This is critical as data exchange and the data itself form the basis of highly automated industrial processes. The system guarantees the traceability of the measurements of all the calibrations carried out and allows the sharing of information without resorting to paper. This streamlines the integration of measurements as it can be carried out using critical test equipment within an integrated factory, thus improving maintenance efficiency and plant efficiency.
“The tests we've done over the last 24-36 months have made it increasingly more aware of business leaders to make fundamental changes to maintenance methods to protect bottom line,” said Paul Feenstra.
“This is music to the ears of industry managers who have been calling for investments to improve system efficiency and reliability. The time has come to embrace innovative technologies, tools and processes to ensure our business remains competitive and thrives in this new environment.”
For more information on Fluke specialty products and services, visit their website.
