All our members are established specialists within their fields, and have the experience and commercial standing to provide quality, cost-effective solutions for all aspects of mechanisation for bulk materials handling and storage, conveyors, dust collection and control, instrumentation, mixers, big bag handling, sampling systems, sieves, valves and weighing systems and equipment.
Industry 4.0 is reported to be the next major revolution in
industrialisation. The main focus is to take all the individual
processes and systems that are used in manufacturing to manage and
control production, and import them into a cloud-based system allowing
the workflow, product changes and the management of each and every
individual machine or a series of machines can be controlled remotely.
Cloud computing and the internet of things are the two main components
needed to introduce industry 4.0 into a business. The Cloud is hosted on
the internet or company intranet and allows for remote access to
applications, services, and data.
The internet of things builds
on this concept by using the cloud to store and automate processes and
components that are linked and sequenced on the internet. A simple
example of this process is the new generation of fridges that can scan
your products, then let you know when you need to re order or when the
use by dates are close and send these messages directly to your smart
phone, or alternately order the products direct from your chosen
supplier. Industry 4.0 utilises both cloud computing and the internet of
things to take processes that are normally managed internally by both
people and machines and move them into the cloud where they can be
managed from anywhere in the world.
As we look into the
application of these systems at a factory level, they are often called
manufacturing execution systems (MES) and are the computerised systems
used in manufacturing, to track and document the transformation of raw
materials in to finished goods and logistics. MES provides information
in real time that helps manufacturing decision makers understand how
current conditions on the factory floor can be optimised to improve
production output.
MES can operate across multiple function
areas, for example: management of products across the whole of its
lifecycle, resource scheduling, order execution, dispatch and logistics,
production analysis and downtime management. All this information can
then be used for the process of overall equipment effectiveness (OEE),
where product quality, or material traceability is constantly monitored.
MES creates the "as-built" record, capturing the data, processes and
outcomes of the manufacturing process. This can be especially important
in regulated industries, such as food, beverage and pharmaceutical,
where documentation and proof of processes can be a statutory
requirement.
MES can also be seen as a means of bringing together
an enterprise resource planning (ERP) system and a supervisory control
and data acquisition (SCADA) process control system. SCADA uses
networked data communications and graphical user interfaces for
high-level process supervisory management, but it also uses other
integrated systems such as programmable logic controllers often known as
PLC’s and PID controllers to interface with the process plant or
machinery.
SHAPA members have an extensive knowledge of using
these systems for the control and management of factory and production
systems, more information can be gained by visiting the technical
section on the SHAPA website at
www.shapa.co.uk . All this data is available free as part of SHAPA’s
mission to benefit the whole of the industry at large.
Should you
need to speak with someone about a specific enquiry on how you can
increase the effectiveness of your processes, please send and enquiry in
to info@shapa.co.uk or call 01904 373040. All enquiries will be actioned
quickly and passed onto member companies best able to deal with your
enquiry. Of course, if you are a supplier within solids and bulk
handling industries, the next step should be to enquire about whether
SHAPA membership could benefit your organisation.
Visit www.shapa.co.uk or email info@shapa.co.uk to discover more benefits of membership or to find technical partners for your next project.
