The Importance of Data Analytics in the Materials Industry

Data analytics has become an essential tool for plant managers looking to improve the efficiency and productivity of their business, especially in the materials industry. With the emergence of Industry 4.0, data analytics has become a common practice in modern manufacturing processes. Today, it is possible to collect data from a variety of sources: sensors, process control systems, production equipment…

However, data collection is only the first step. Data analysis is the process of transforming this data into actionable information. This then allows informed decisions to be made to improve productivity and profitability. Modern data analysis tools have significantly improved data analysis capabilities and have enabled business managers to make faster and more informed decisions in real time.

IBITEK, publisher of the IBIProd industrial information software solution, explains how data analysis can be used to improve the performance of your plant.

How can data analysis be used in a production plant?

Are you a manufacturing plant manager? Here’s how data can be used to improve your productivity.

  1. Real-time monitoring: Using sensors and real-time monitoring tools to track equipment performance, production levels and quality rates can help detect problems early and take the necessary steps to resolve them.
  2. Improved preventive maintenance: Data analysis can help identify equipment most likely to fail in order to establish a preventive maintenance plan. This can reduce downtime and maintenance costs.
  3. Production optimization: Data analysis can help optimize production by identifying bottlenecks.
  4. Data-driven decision making: Data can be used to make strategic decisions, such as investments in new technology and equipment. All by providing information on costs, performance and industry trends.

How can the IBIProd solution improve plant productivity?

The IBIProd solution can improve plant performance, especially in the materials sector, by using advanced technologies to manage preventive maintenance, equipment shutdown and reporting.

Here are examples of data that can be analyzed and used by IBIProd:

  • Real-time production data, such as energy consumption, amount of raw materials used, production speed and final product quality.
  • Maintenance data, such as machine and equipment downtime and repairs.
  • Quality data, such as laboratory tests on finished products and samples.
  • Logistics data, such as delivery times and transportation costs for raw materials and finished products.

This enables better understanding of production, early identification of problems, and continuous process optimization to improve manufacturing quality, operational safety, profitability, and environmental compliance.

In addition, using advanced planning and predictive algorithms, IBIProd can help plants maximize resource utilization, manage costs and improve energy efficiency.

Below, IBITEK explains how a data analysis solution can help you manage preventive maintenance, equipment downtime, and data reporting.

Preventive maintenance management

Preventive maintenance management is crucial to the continuity of a plant’s operations. It keeps equipment in good working order, prevents unexpected breakdowns and reduces repair costs. However, to be effective, preventive maintenance must be well planned and accurately executed. That’s where data analysis comes in.

With data analytics, a plant manager can monitor equipment performance and detect early warning signs of failure. Sensors and process control systems can be used to collect data on equipment performance, such as temperatures, vibrations and pressure levels. This data can then be analyzed for trends and anomalies that could indicate impending failure.

It is then easier to proactively plan preventive maintenance. Maintenance schedules can be based on equipment life cycles and usage data, rather than fixed deadlines.

The data collected can be used to identify pieces of equipment that tend to fail more frequently, or that require more intensive maintenance.

Managing equipment downtime

Equipment downtime is an unavoidable reality for any plant. Whether it’s for maintenance, repairs or upgrades, downtime can cost a company a lot of money in terms of both downtime and lost production.

To minimize disruption and maximize productivity, a plant manager must be able to effectively manage equipment downtime.

Using monitoring systems and sensors, data can be collected to track equipment performance in real time. This data can then be used to determine the most appropriate times to schedule equipment shutdowns, based on equipment life cycles and production needs.

Data analysis can help optimize downtime by allowing for more accurate planning and more efficient use of maintenance resources. By examining the data, it is possible to determine which equipment tends to fail more often and plan for replacement or maintenance accordingly.

Reporting with data analysis

Reporting is a critical task, as it allows you to track the performance of production equipment and make the best decisions about maintenance and process improvements. This task can be extremely time consuming when done manually.

Fortunately, Industry 4.0 solutions, such as data analytics software, can make this task much easier. These tools automatically collect and store production data, allowing for accurate, real-time reporting without the need to manually enter information.

The software allows complex analysis to be performed with a few clicks, allowing trends and potential problems to be quickly identified. In addition, these tools also allow you to create graphs and visualizations to present data in a clear and easily understandable way.

What machines and tools can use IoT in industry?

By using sensors and communication devices, IoT allows for the collection and transmission of real-time data about the operation of these machines and tools, which can be used to optimize performance, productivity, and quality. IBIProd can centralize this data:

Production Tools Advantages
Storage Silos
  • Real-time monitoring of storage levels and product quality
  • Quick detection of overload for improved safety
  • Optimization of stock rotation for optimal resource utilization
Grinders
  • Real-time monitoring of grinder performance
  • Optimization of energy consumption by adjusting operational parameters
  • Real-time monitoring of finished product quality
  • Better planning for preventive maintenance
Conveyors
  • Real-time monitoring of conveyor performance
  • Quick detection of malfunctions for preventive maintenance
  • Optimization of flow rate for better conveyor capacity utilization
  • Real-time monitoring of transported product quality
Weighing system
  • Precise measurement of weight for better production management
  • Real-time performance monitoring for preventive maintenance
  • Real-time data collection for in-depth analysis
Rotary kilns
  • Real-time monitoring of temperature and kiln performance
  • Optimization of energy consumption by adjusting combustion parameters
  • Real-time monitoring of finished product quality
  • Better planning for preventive maintenance
Published On: March 3rd, 2023 / Categories: No category /

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