FEATURE SMART FACTORIES A FACTORY IN YOUR POCKET
As the smartphone is now the go-to device for work and play, manufacturers are examining its potential for use as a mobile factory tool. While this is exciting for the industry, it also presents a number of challenges regarding safety, reliability and security. Ian Millington, managing director of adi Automation, part of adi Group, looks into it
F
actories are lagging behind when it comes to smartphone adoption,
despite the excitement around Industry 4.0. The UK is currently playing catch-up with the likes of Germany and the USA in terms of progressing towards totally connected digital factories. Nevertheless, it is likely that heavy emphasis will be placed on this over the next few years, driven mainly by industrial bodies and international suppliers. adi Group says that its customers are
still in the planning stages of implementing this technology, waiting to see how it pans out for the ‘early adopters’. On the surface, the reason why seems straightforward: the complexity of data and equipment used in industrial processes requires a much more detailed approach than, for example, office accounting software. Much of the discussion around Industry
4.0 has focused on the distant future - the ‘25 years from now’ vision, which could be the reason behind the slow adoption of industrial smartphone apps. However, introducing this technology into factories is one of the first steps on the journey to Industry 4.0, and there are solutions available now that make it easy.
THE TOOL TO SHARE KNOWLEDGE The FactoryTalk TeamONE app from Rockwell Automation is compatible with iOS and Android smartphones and its device modules communicate directly to devices on the network, which enables users to collaborate and share knowledge; view live production diagnostics; interact with machine alarms; and troubleshoot
For example, engineers can view trend
devices. Employees can choose from the variety of modules with the TeamONE app to directly view information from devices, such as Allen-Bradley PowerFlex drives, or see the high-level health status of any EtherNet/IP device. Once issues are resolved, learnings can then be flagged, saved and searched for in the future. FactoryTalk TeamONE Free Edition
includes eight modules: Incident, Device Health, Teamboard, Knowledgebase, Connect, Pinboard and Chat, Connect and Trend. It can be downloaded from the Google Play or Apple app stores. The recent Standard Edition operates on an annual user-based subscription and provides an additional alarms module and multiple team logins. Teams with a mix of free and subscription versions are not hindered from seamlessly collaborating. While some similar solutions are
designed around management staff, FactoryTalk TeamONE caters directly to the needs of maintenance personnel. By making information more accessible, and improving communication between team members, it reduces lead time to repair by up to 33 seconds per hour. Engineers have the flexibility to walk around the plant floor with the information they need right in front of them.
data when they are directly in front of a device – such as a drive – and identify where faults are occurring. The app’s knowledge base can then be used as a reference point to ensure the issue is resolved safely and effectively. The engineer can also take a picture of the device and send it to a colleague. The app operates ‘location-based
Bottom: An example of the FactoryTalk TeamONE app from Rockwell Automation
security’ whereby it connects to plant floor local networks, meaning it cannot be accessed outside of the factory environment. Users’ security and privacy settings are set up against their Rockwell Knowledge Base account to ensure only verified users can access sensitive data. For use in harsh industrial environments, such as chemical and pharmaceuticals, purchasing ATEX-approved tablets is an attractive option cost-wise in comparison to centralised plant equipment.
COMBATTING THE SKILLS SHORTAGE Implementing this technology may also have wider benefits for the industry’s image, helping the UK to attract new engineering talent. To combat the widely- accepted skills shortage, the industry must work hard to challenge its image problem – the notion that engineering is dirty, boring, or old-fashioned. As a relatively new phenomenon, these
apps must constantly evolve and change based on user feedback to ensure they stay relevant to the dynamic needs of manufacturing environments. FactoryTalk TeamONE has a user feedback function that helps to inform the monthly updates that become available. Being a ‘second adopter’ of mobile
device automation may actually work in the UK’s favour; by the time it becomes widespread, the current solutions will have been refined to a greater degree based on feedback from ‘early adopters’. While the concept of Industry 4.0 is
bandied around at most executive meetings, its true benefits are realised at plant level. For manufacturers looking to boost their productivity and reduce downtime, it is time to start exploring the benefits that industrial apps have to offer.
www.adiltd.co.uk www.rockwellautomation.com
1 NOVEMBER 2017 | FACTORY EQUIPMENT 4 / FACTORYEQUIPMENT
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