Yes – and a whole lot more.
Machine monitoring is key to the use of Plantnode – we take a signal and measure the ‘heartbeat’ of the machine. This allows us to monitor if the machine is in a running state, idle state, or if required, a slow running state. The same signal can also allow us to capture a total production count. We then take additional signals to interpret a good production count too.
Plantnode has a barcode scanner to allow the operator to record reasons for the state of the machine. A simple ‘reason’ scan will add context to the state so you can understand why the machine was down or running slowly. Other signals on the machine or line (including PLC input) may also be monitored to allow the recording of the condition of that part of the asset at the point of stoppage. An example may be a bottling line where the filling is stopped when an accumulation point is reached after the labelling machine fails. Plantnode will allow you to see the root cause of the stoppage – in real time.
Plantnode provides monitoring for management and supervisors via a web browser (accessible from anywhere). There is also an overhead LED display, normally located over the machine or line, that provides active visual management – helping the operator to achieve improved productivity by giving contextual feedback based on the state of the machine.
A further benefit of Plantnode is the ability for events to generate an email message (which can also be converted to a mobile phone text message) that can be sent to key people. For instance, if a certain machine state always requires an engineer to attend the machine or line this can be prompted without having to rely on the operator to initiate the call.