The Automation Industry: The Cost of Downtime

By Todd Smith

There is no question that the automation industry has made great steps and helped greater precision and savings in all kinds of producing endeavors. Nonetheless, automation (like every other system) can break down. It could also need straightforward upkeep from time to time. From a net result perspective its important that a company know, with relative accuracy, what those down times cost so the figures can be utilized in budgeting and pricing.

Informed management is smart management. It is not extraordinarily hard to investigate the price of down time by using precise parameters. Actually the price of work is the 1st prime to spring to mind, but there's are also other considerations such as a product delay, bottlenecks or blockages in other parts of the producing process while upgrades or repairs happen and so on. By taking a look at these elements a company can identify the best timing for downtimes.

Let's employ a simple example. Say company A knows that the requirement for product experiences seasonal highs and lows, it makes sense to line up downtime for a period when demand is the lowest. Or or doubtless cooperatively the company could begin watching for new automation kit that's being offered at lower price-points and buy, then wait to install till that low season rolls around. The only difficulty with the second eventuality is storage. If you don't have a facility for your apparatus then that cost needs to be planned for as well.

In taking a look at your costs for down time, some managers weigh overhead costs heavily. However , when you consider that those costs are ALWAYS part of the company profile, really the direct work is a far larger weight. Together with those man hours there's also the employee's insurance, IRAs, overtime (if relevant) for example. Also consider indirect work like inspectors, material handlers, consultants, administrative staff or regular employees who've got to take time from ordinary obligations to assist in managing the goals for the down-time.

Constants in the world of down time include equipment costs and work (including QC). Less certain is what sort of time you'll need, how much production reduces, consultation, any fitting obligatory, and shipping the mandatory parts. A flow chart can explain lots of this data, particularly if the manufacturer is using data gathering systems.

Once you've been through one automation down time cost calculation you can use that info or any future such activities. Some factors will change unless you have to undertake the same project, but having a functional format saves a great deal of time going forward.

About the Author:

Todd Smith is the owner of psifla.com, an internet site with information about automation systems

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Considering upgrading your automation systems?

By Todd Smith

When you see all the new and cutting edge automation system changes, it might be alluring to upgrade your system. Nevertheless, 'new ' doesn't often mean better, and it may not even be something usable to your producing process. What kinds of things should you be considering before you enter an upgrade plan?

First, it's critical that you actually know what your company needs in the way of automation. If you're not qualified to make that analysis, get an expert. It's worth the money to have a professional set of eyes. They can find you savings and also assist in avoiding products that just will not fit with the remainder of your processes. That consultant can be able to lead you toward several automation pros who could use the changes in making a particularized bid that compares apples to apples.

Speaking of which, pretty much every producing company has pretty harsh guiding principles on purchasing upgrades. Review your bidding process and how bidders are appraised. If there is a buying person, use them as your 'go to ', giving them the recommendations furnished by the advisor. These suggestions will go to potential bidders with requests for any other documents needed by policy.

A second part to upgrading automation is consistency. Hand select a few folk who stay on this job from starting point to end point. Look for a pleasantly-rounded team each of whom can offer experience on the automation upgrade being considered. You need PC folk, researchers, engineers and other certified experts having a look at this from every angle. Remember that whatever you do at 'home ' has to work cooperatively with the 'outfield ' as well. The person in command of your team can make choices as per the company's objectives, but he or she is also culpable for those choices.

One of the best motives to upgrade is finding that rivals with cutting edge systems are digging neatly into your profit margins. If your automation apparatus is reaching the end of its serviceable life you might well save cash in ongoing repair by getting an upgrade. The upgrade will also have certain warrantees that protect you going forward. In both cases, make sure your upgrade meets a quantifiable company goal.

Beyond this, you actually have to consider the bottom line. Weigh cost factors against predicted results. And avoid bidders who don't give you real specifics. Just like any industry automation as buzz words like 'flexibility ' that have little meaning unless applied in a concrete way.

About the Author:

Todd Smith owns of Power Systems Incorporated, a company that offers automation systems.

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The advantages of automation mixed with wireless technology

By Todd Smith

Recently the clamor for wireless technologies has been growing rapidly, including in the automation industry. There are that many potential applications in manufacturing that the sheer options can become overwhelming. The key has a sound strategy for wireless applications, realizing that some systems benefit from hard-wiring, and that hard-wiring also makes a good 'back up ' plan for when a wireless system goes down.

There are many common applications for wireless technology in the automation industry. One is easy monitoring. This often gets shot of the necessity for a human eye. Over a period of time that will save a company cash. Think about inventory control as a superb example, including remote inventories. Especially in substantial companies this becomes a difficult task for workers doing it by hand. Having a wireless, automated application simplifies everything and also provides more precision.

Another glorious application for wireless monitoring is for identifying issues with energy usage and management. By pin-pointing variables in say gas use a company can then find out how to reduce consumption (again saving money). The same type of monitoring is applicable to pipeline instrumentation. The wireless automatic system can track remote info constantly.

Having said all that, there are limits. Some control processes simply aren't fitted to underlying wireless net needs. The key here is how swiftly the wireless system provides reply, and what reply time is necessary. In these time delicate circumstances, hard-wiring remains the right way to go.

The best way to know definitely if your automation systems suit the wireless world is by checking your current infrastructure. What must be added to that infrastructure to handle the wireless service insuring correct performance? Those elements must be part of your position and your planning process. Think about this like laying a foundation to a building. Each well-known stone needs to be solid and placed in the required order, particularly if you chose mesh networking. The great part of this design is that each device communicates with each other device in the network, and can also become a router if it's required. As you expand the number of sensors in this system, the daddy your wireless net stretches.

What about overall guidelines for wireless technology in automation? there were steps made here as well. The industry standards is called WirelessHART. These standards provide protocols for a wide-range of wireless communications. While this is no means a unified standard, it's a good start.

About the Author:

Todd Smith owns of psifla.com, a website that offers info about automation goods and services.

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