Maximising the value of data for OEMs

Driven by rapid adoption of connectivity, mobility, cloud computing and big data analytics, digitisation in manufacturing has huge potential. According to a 2015 McKinsey survey, by 2025 digitisation will reduce time to market by 20 to 25%, optimise expertise by 45 to 55%, and reduce machine downtime by up to 50%.

In this ultra-competitive environment, OEMs need solutions that will improve the connectivity of their machines, giving them real-time operational awareness, and access to their machines in order to optimise their operational efficiency while developing new business opportunities, e.g. in their services business. These benefits need to be passed on to operators, while guaranteeing safety and data security.

Building on its deep expertise in the OEMs segment Schneider Electric has introduced EcoStruxure Machine Advisor to offer new levels of efficiencies and growth by turning data into key insights for machine builders.

Martin Walder, Vice President Industry at Schneider Electric, stated: "With EcoStruxure Machine Advisor, OEMs gain real-time remote access to their machines, allowing them to add and modify new services to each installed machine at any production site worldwide."

Ecostruxure Machine Advisor provides a fully connected framework for reliable machine operation through three key functionalities:

• Track: OEMs can visualise the location of all their machines, with real-time access to documentation and history, such as bill of materials, manuals, maintenance logs and task management schedules.
• Monitor: The cloud-based software allows OEMs to collect and visualise machine data in real time, giving a comprehensive analysis of Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE), widgets for performance against key KPIs and other trends, and dashboards to monitor machine availability and output quality.
• Fix: A service enabled by a mobile app to facilitate maintenance and operations with contextual information, step-by-step procedures and remote expertise by leveraging augmented reality. Furthermore, Fix provides remote access to the engineering software in the cloud enabling service technicians to use ‘Software-as-a-Service’ to always have the right version and libraries at hand.

While these functionalities allow OEMs to improve customer satisfaction and innovate with new service offers, EcoStruxure Machine Advisor also gives immediate benefits to operators by leveraging the EcoStruxure Augmented Operator Advisor app. EcoStruxure Augmented Operator Advisor puts real-time information at their fingertips, whenever and wherever it is needed. The custom application improves operational efficiency with augmented reality, enabling operators to superimpose the current data and virtual objects onto a cabinet, machine, or plant.

EcoStruxure Machine Advisor is part of the Apps, Analytics & Services portfolio of the Schneider Electric IoT-enabled architecture: EcoStruxure Machine. EcoStruxure is an open, interoperable, IoT-enabled system architecture and platform. EcoStruxure aims to deliver enhanced value around safety, reliability, efficiency, sustainability, and connectivity for customers.

EcoStruxure leverages advancements in IoT, mobility, sensing, cloud, analytics, and cyber security to deliver Innovation at Every Level. This includes Connected Products, Edge Control, and Apps, Analytics & Services. EcoStruxure has been deployed in 480,000+ sites, with the support of 20,000+ system integrators and developers, connecting over 1.6 million assets under management through 40+ digital services.

EcoStruxure Machine Advisor has been piloted successfully with many OEMs in Europe and Asia.