Industrial Data Communication and M2M specialist M.A.C. Solutions (UK) LIMITED has launched AssetVue® (www.mac-solutions.net/assetvue), a KPI (Key Performance Indicator) management software suite targeted at small-to-medium sized manufacturers, including OEMs, machine builders, systems integrators and process equipment suppliers. The software suite is designed to help companies maximise their revenues by identifying and delivering new value-added services that will improve their end customers’ performance.
As John Pritchard, managing director at M.A.C. Solutions (UK) LIMITED states: “The latest research shows that the most successful OEMs and machine builders are now generating between 20-40% of their revenues and profits from services rather than ‘pure’ manufacturing. These companies are constantly seeking out new services to offer to their customers, in order to give their machines or process equipment an edge over the competition.”
“These added value services could include offering customers 24/7 delivery of spare parts for your machines, or providing predictive maintenance, remote condition monitoring and availability guarantees. The problem is, very few of these companies actually know the route to enabling this type of business model. This is where AssetVue comes into its own.”
AssetVue® comprises a suite of software modules that together deliver a complete solution consisting of data logging, remote communications, data archiving, trending and analytics – all in a customisable, but affordable software platform that is based on open-standard technologies.
As Pritchard continues: “To date, the development of remote communications and data collection technologies have been mostly led by larger companies. However, AssetVue® utilises the latest Industry 4.0 and Internet-Servicing technologies, which brings the power of connectivity to SMEs. AssetVue® is also affordable for SMEs, who will pay for the software on a price-per-machine (asset in the field) basis, which will typically pay back within one year. For example, a customer with 50 machines in the field, for example, would pay an estimated £500 per machine.”
AssetVue® comprises the following software modules:
· Communication & Data Collection
Data is collected from the OEM/machine builder’s equipment using the eWON VPN routers and the Talk2M or eFive secure Internet platforms. AssetVue Fetch Data Collector then harvests this data and transfers these files to a server.
· Historian
Data files from the server are stored by using the Acron Data Historian, which can cater for both small-scale and enterprise-sized systems. The Acron Data Historian is built on robust, fault-tolerant technology and client server architecture, which means the software is scaleable and can grow as the OEM or machine builder’s
· Analytics
The Acron Data Historian generates comprehensive reports from archived process data over any time period, producing data reports by day, week, month and year. It is also possible to generate reports over custom time periods (e.g. shifts) with such reports defined by start and end conditions. These custom reports are ideal for process manufacturing and food industries, as well as production environments. Reports can be distributed and published in-house for the machine builder’s own internal use, as well as viewable across the Internet, by email or Web-server, for the end customer’s use.
· Web Publishing
Web publishing of reports, real time data and trended machine/process data is achieved by using atvise® Scada. This powerful web HMI and SCADA visualisation software is based on open standard web-technology (HTML5, SVG vector graphics) and so the atvise® Web-Server can be accessed from any PC, Mac, Mobile or Smart Phone device, without the need for plug-ins or licenses for client devices.
· Alarm & Notify
The alarm information portal, API-Videc, provides an alarm workflow and escalation system, to deliver alarms or notifications to the appropriate person in the organisation. This software also ensures that the right action is taken at the right time.
By equipping their machines and process equipment with eWON industrial VPN routers and by utilising AssetVue® – which enables machine and process data to be collected, analysed, reported and acted upon – machine builders can now ensure that their business is positioned for sustainable growth – and all of this can be achieved in a safe, secure network.
“For the machine builder, these value-added services can bring numerous benefits, including improved machine performance; reduced production costs; the prediction of future maintenance needs; improved training methods; improved management of service level agreements; and increased customer loyalty,” concludes Pritchard.
For more information on AssetVue, please visit www.mac-solutions.net
