The client
Our client is an American multinational computer technology company that develops, sells, repairs, and supports computers and related products and services. It is one of the largest pc companies globally.
Background: Our client was tracking the performance of machines/robotics in manufacturing, assembling server storage products used for data centres. There were 12 robots in this area, assembling drives into the chassis for storage products. It is a fully automated line, with no human interventions operated by robotics. Each robot performs a specific task.
The challenge
Wrxflo were asked to connect into the machines/robotics on the line and produce reports that would be able to monitor the performance and automatically alert the team if any issues arose, and if the machines needed to be calibrated or on a maintenance schedule.
What the customer wanted to know was the status of the overall availability of the machine, specifically, “is the machine running or not” or “how much of the day or shift was the machine running” and to trend the hours, days, weeks, months, quarters, and years that the machines were running, so they could do analysis.
The customer also required an alarm or notification to occur if there was a machine issue or breakdown. This would alert the maintenance team, to fix the machine, faster than if they had to manually check the machines, which would cause lost hours.
The solution
Wrxflo implemented the Machine Maintenance solution. Wrxflo connected into the robotics system to view the information that the robotics were producing. This information was then connected into the WrxFlo Machine Maintenance solution, where WrxFlo could transform the data into usable information for the client.
The product has an easy configuration set up that primes the system. The information available includes, shift configuration, performance during each shift, Equipment setup including type, brand, model, the area, and line set up on, the serial number, and purchase date.
An easy configurable screen is attached to the system which can be adjusted as required for removing or updating equipment, re-ordering spare parts if required.
Preventive maintenance is included where the operator can calibrate the machines or select maintenance. The data is inputted into the machines and the frequency of the task can be updated accordingly.
The result
The client can now:
- Monitor the performance and automatically alert the team if any issues arose.
- Be notified automatically if the machines need to be calibrated or maintained, or new parts need to be re-ordered.
- The status of the overall availability of the machine
- View analytics and performance in real time – as the information comes directly from the machine.
- The machine is now producing more, and the asset is being maximised
