Editor’s choice


BOOSTING PLANT RELIABILITY TODAY CREATES A SOLID FOOTING FOR FUTURE OPERATIONS


Ankush Malhotra, president of Fluke Reliability, says that UK manufacturers do not need to wait for economic conditions to change to benefit from taking a more proactive approach to maintaining their machinery.


the benefits are likely to be left behind. The results of this survey show that while many industries are talking about AI implementation, manufacturers are walking the talk.” Of those looking to invest in the next 12 months, the need for adoption was largely driven by the benefits of AI implementation including:


the ability to develop new products and services (35 per cent)


provide a new way to address data processing and analysis requirements (35 per cent)


a means to address the call for improvements to customer service (35 per cent)


the demand for improved efficiency and productivity (34 per cent)


ways to compensate for the skilled labour shortage (31 per cent).


“It’s no surprise that manufacturers are bullish in their adoption of AI,” said Aaron Merkin, chief technology 0fficer, Fluke Reliability. “We know it works and have customers who have seen value in as little as three months.”


Fluke Reliability www.fluke.com Instrumentation Monthly June 2024


downturn and skills shortages show no sign of abating. Unfortunately, the recent announcement of a general election in July only adds to the continued uncertainty. Surveys of the UK and US manufacturing industry show that confidence continues to be low. Economic activity in both countries’ manufacturing sectors has been contracting in April as a result of supply chain disruption in the Red Sea area accompanied by increases in prices of raw materials. Experts agree there’s no obvious sign of light at the end of the tunnel. The OECD’s May forecast for the world economy predicts that UK GDP will grow by just 0.4 per cent in 2024, possibly increasing to one per cent in 2025. With inflation not expected to fall below the government’s two per cent target, rising unemployment is likely.


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Businesses could be forgiven for putting a pause on major investment as they wait to see how things play out, but that does not mean they cannot take steps to adapt to the situation. Smart manufacturers are exploiting the latest advances in artificial intelligence (AI) to establish maintenance regimes which keep existing assets running for longer while minimising downtime and making the most of their skills base. All at the same time as keeping up with the sustainability targets that are a key priority for today’s businesses.


s my colleague Aaron Merkin and I predicted at the start of 2024 in Fluke Reliability’s forecast of what 2024 has in store for industry, an economic


An emphasis on maintaining rather than replacing machinery is reaching new heights. At the same time, falling costs of industrial IoT devices and AI-assisted tools make it possible to monitor assets continuously. Condition-based monitoring, coupled with AI systems that can predict possible faults by rigorously analysing the data collected by plant-wide sensor networks, does not just minimise downtime and help avoid unnecessary expenditure. By keeping plants running efficiently and only replacing when necessary, a connected reliability approach boosts sustainability too.


Economic forecasts are influenced by the fact that, even with unemployment soaring, many businesses are facing skills shortages. This is an area where the same AI technology that is optimising machine efficiency can address the challenge of replacing an ageing workforce. It does not replace humans, but helps them to make faster, more effective decisions without the need for narrow, specialised skill sets. For UK companies, a general election and prospect of a possible change of government is only adding to the reasons to take a cautious approach. It would be a brave organisation that made plans around the expected outcome, or even what’s promised by the various manifestoes. With a reliable maintenance regime based on AI, though, any manufacturer can ensure they have a sustainable base for efficient operations - whatever the future has in store.


Fluke Reliability www.fluke.com 15


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