LAEMPE MÖSSNER SINTO is offering a software package with "apps" for recording, storing, and visualizing product and operating data. Users of the Laempe Digital Cockpit (LDC) can track production reports, availability, monitoring, shift book, mixer data, and cycle monitoring. By permanently analyzing the plant data, it is possible to calculate the overall equipment effectiveness (OEE), the essential key figure in foundry operations, according to Laempe.
As detailed by the developer, the LDC fits seamlessly into users' routines without changing the previous workflow. Because the LDC is designed as a web-based application, no additional software needs to be installed. The software is workplace-independent, cloud-capable and can be accessed via any internet-capable end device. The software, including the applications themselves, is located on a box PC that is conveniently connected ("plug and play") to the machine and the PLC data interface via a network connection.
The LDC helps production managers, maintenance staff, and operators to monitor all production parameters, machine availability and speed, production quality, and to obtain evaluations of historical periods and error logging in the form of a shift book. Over time, thanks to its various entries, the shift book becomes a knowledge database, including recommendations for action in the event of recurring faults. In this way, the LDC contributes to the transfer of knowledge within the company.
The standard applications of the LDC and their functions, at a glance:
● Monitoring: All machine and operating data are displayed in real time and with history, depending on the machine and plant type. The application is generically structured and can be expanded to include additional sensors and their measured value recording.
● Production report: The overview shows the number of production cycles per hour. The current day and the previous days are displayed. The color-coded values show the values of the current hour. The data, which is available in real time and objective, forms the basis for problem-oriented analysis and optimization
● Availability: This application shows the distribution of production availability including the display of downtimes. In addition, all production-dependent downtimes can be defined according to an individually designed error catalogue. A statistical evaluation is automatically generated for this purpose.
● Logbook: All shift book entries are documented. When creating a new entry, the entry category is defined in advance: Malfunction or Maintenance. In addition, problem, and solution as well as shift and cause can be documented. This offers the advantage that if a malfunction occurs again, the shift logbook can be searched for an existing entry and the solution documented there can be applied.
In addition, the applications for OEE, mixer data and fault tracking can be installed.
Through permanent monitoring and evaluation of the data, production losses can be identified and thus data-driven possible improvements in product quality and process flows can be initiated.
"Above all, the recorded downtimes and scrap rates always provide our customers with a starting point for process optimization. The whole process is done digitally and evidence-based with the LDC, because data doesn't lie. This replaces analog defect recording via paper and pencil with a reliable digital solution and creates the basis for transparent production," explained Mario Köninger, who is responsible for the development of the LDC together with Jens Maier at Laempe.
Learn more at www.laempe.com/en