When plenty of money is circulating during a boom cycle, running an established business can look relatively straightforward. Process inefficiency is easy to miss when profits are growing and more cash is coming in than going out. The real test comes during a market downturn when sentiment becomes negative and consumers with less money to spend consider their purchasing decisions more carefully.
“This is when managers need to re-evaluate how efficiently the business is operating, and what measures they are going to take to trim out the waste. Before they can achieve this of course they need a measurement system, and more importantly, a measurement system that transforms data into information,” says Neil Upfold of eTX Data Services.
He continues by stating that this is often easier said than done: “If the wrong parameters are measured, or the right parameters are measured with the wrong degree of accuracy, the system can often do more harm than good.”
He adds that in manufacturing the technology required for data capturing is mostly available ready for connection to the plant along with an industrial software package to process this data and generate reports. However, the system can only really be optimal if at least the following questions have been considered by the end user:
* Have we chosen the best hardware to perform our measurements and execute our control requirements adequately?
* Does our software give us the information we need to make informed decisions about our processes?
* In the future will our system be easily expandable?
“If it is not your core business, why not partner with a solution provider?” Neil asks.
“At eTX we specialise in configuring off-the-shelf hardware and software tools into systems that are tailored to a set of specific user requirements. In the right hands data integration software such as Kepware’s OPC server along with small scada packages, PLCs, remote I/O devices and radio modems can be combined to create extremely powerful management tools.
“Couple that with our ‘on time on budget’ approach, and you get a system that saves company money, streamlines processes and adds value to the bottom line for years.”
Sustainable energy management Siemens South Africa
IT in Manufacturing
Utilising its innovative ONE approach technology, Siemens provides complete transparency on resource consumption and offers data-driven optimisation recommendations for sustainable energy management.
Read more...Paving the way for a carbon-neutral future in South Africa
IT in Manufacturing
At ABB Electrification, we believe the infrastructure of the future must do more than support daily operations, it must anticipate them. We are committed to building intelligent systems that connect and optimise infrastructure across sectors.
Read more...Africa’s hidden AI advantage
IT in Manufacturing
Through my work implementing AI systems across three continents, I’ve become convinced that Africa’s unique context demands urgent AI adoption. Successful implementation requires local expertise to understand resource constraints as design parameters to create the innovations that make technology truly work under real-world conditions.
Read more...Siemens Xcelerator empowers space-tech pioneer, Skyroot Aerospace Siemens South Africa
IT in Manufacturing
Siemens Digital Industries Software has announced that Skyroot Aerospace, a leading private space launch service company in India, has adopted Polarion software from the Siemens Xcelerator portfolio to digitally transform its software development processes and enhance efficiency as it aims to accelerate access to space for its customers worldwide.
Read more...Water is running out, is your ESG strategy ready?
IT in Manufacturing
Water is one of the most critical yet undervalued resources in modern business. Water stewardship asks businesses to understand their water footprint across the entire value chain and to engage with others who share the same water resources.
Read more...Cybersecurity in 2025: Six trends to watch
IT in Manufacturing
Rockwell Automation’s?10th?State?of?Smart?Manufacturing report finds that cybersecurity risks are a major, ever-present obstacle, and are now the third-largest impediment to growth in the next 12?months.
Read more...The state of the smart buildings market in 2025
IT in Manufacturing
Smart buildings are entering a transformative phase, driven by sustainability goals, technological innovation and evolving user expectations. According to ABI Research’s latest whitepaper, the sector is undergoing a strategic overhaul across key areas like retrofitting, energy efficiency, data-driven operations and smart campus development.
Read more...Digital twin for Bavaria’s National Theatre Siemens South Africa
IT in Manufacturing
Siemens and the Bavarian State Opera are digitalising the acoustics in Bavaria’s National Theatre in Munich, Germany. The result is a digital twin that simulates sound effects, orchestral setups and venue configurations in a realistic 3D acoustic model so that musicians, the director and conductors can assess a concert hall’s acoustics even before the first rehearsal.
Read more...How AI can help solve South Africa’s water crisis
IT in Manufacturing
Climate change, ageing infrastructure, pollution and unequal access are putting intense pressure on the country’s water systems. A powerful question arises: “Can artificial intelligence help us change course?”
Read more...Backup has evolved, but has your strategy?
IT in Manufacturing
With cyber threats rising and compliance standards tightening, South African organisations are under growing pressure to revisit their data protection strategies. The era of treating backups as a box-ticking exercise is over.
While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained herein, the publisher and its agents cannot be held responsible for any errors contained, or any loss incurred as a result. Articles published do not necessarily reflect the views of the publishers. The editor reserves the right to alter or cut copy. Articles submitted are deemed to have been cleared for publication. Advertisements and company contact details are published as provided by the advertiser. Technews Publishing (Pty) Ltd cannot be held responsible for the accuracy or veracity of supplied material.
printer friendly version