Digital Shopfloor Solution Monitors, Prioritizes Production Site Data

Heidenhain’s new PlantMonitor is a digital solution to aid the manufacturing shop floor. PlantMonitor is now available for companies interested in simultaneously monitoring and analyzing production data at multiple sites utilizing machine tools where at least one is equipped with a Heidenhain TNC control/StateMonitor software combination per site. According to the company, this updated product is capable of aggregating the data onto one screen for review. Machine tools using non-Heidenhain controls can also be included and monitored.

By connecting multiple StateMonitors within the new PlantMonitor software umbrella, a company’s entire production environment is said to become transparent to users, enabling them to react appropriately to problems and changes. This also contributes to enabling users to achieve long-term process optimization.

On a single PlantMonitor screen, network data is displayed by groups via a customizable dashboard. The monitoring function displays machine data in real time. The machine status bar, utilization rate and availability for every machine connected to PlantMonitor can be shown in a clear format on the single page and, if needed, as a tile added to the dashboard. Additional highlights to the system include new Production and Mean Time between failures (MBTF) calculations, as well as the ability to set reference values for productivity, Heidenhain says. As mold builders typically focus on one-offs part production, the ability to create individual, separate, custom dashboards for specific manufacturing sites or groups of machines, and prioritize the data that is seen, is a large benefit for this industry.

Currently, PlantMonitor is available as a rental license with a minimum duration of six months.