Process digitization and supervision: optimizing industrial operations

As part of the industrial transformation towards Industry 5.0, digitization and process supervision are becoming essential for optimizing industrial operations. Englab's experimental platform, supported by the Grand Est Region, is designed to test and deploy advanced technologies such as automation, IIoT, cobotics, and virtual and augmented reality. These technologies aim to optimize operational and decision-making processes, while making it easier to roll them out based on specific industrial needs. This article will focus on digitization and process monitoring, and their role in improving the efficiency and traceability of operations.

Digitization of industrial processes

The digitization of industrial processes improves traceability, quality, and costs. At Englab, we have equipped our Industry 5.0 production line to monitor and predict events, as described in our initial article. These monitoring capabilities enable proactive management of operations.

For example, our platform uses technologies such as IIoT and RFID to ensure real-time traceability and identification of products before, after, and during production. These technologies enable efficient tracking of product movements and inventory management.

Process supervision and control

Process supervision is essential to ensure operational efficiency. At Englab, we use advanced systems to monitor production performance indicators, overall system status, and alerts in the event of malfunctions. These systems notify production operators in the event of an alert, enabling rapid and effective intervention.

Our platform uses sensors and vision systems to monitor operations in real time. These technologies enable anomalies to be detected and corrective measures to be taken quickly, ensuring continuous, high-quality production.

Tracability and inventory management

Tracability is a key element of process supervision. At Englab, we use RFID technology to ensure real-time tracability and identification of products. Many items, such as products, carts, crates, and boxes, are equipped with RFID tags. This allows products to be located and identified throughout the production process, improving inventory management and traceability.

The placement of RFID readers along the entire line allows for the location, identification, and control of parameters such as number, time, and batch. This information is essential for ensuring effective inventory management and complete product traceability.

Predictive maintenance

Predictive maintenance is a crucial aspect of process monitoring. It aims to predict failures before they occur, using data collected by sensors and advanced analysis systems. At Englab, we use optoelectronic sensors, energy sensors, pressure sensors, and flow meters to collect data on the condition of equipment.

We use this data to build machine learning models capable of predicting the remaining useful life (RUL) of equipment. This allows maintenance interventions to be planned at opportune times, reducing downtime and the costs associated with unexpected breakdowns.

Conclusion

Digitization and process supervision are essential for effective industrial operations management. They improve traceability, quality, and efficiency while reducing costs and downtime. In our next article, we will examine how immersive technologies improve decision-making in the Smart Factory.

To see these technologies in action, watch our full video of the experimental line :

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