IT in Manufacturing


Yokogawa releases OpreX

August 2018 IT in Manufacturing

Yokogawa Electric Corporation has developed the OpreX Operational Risk Management: Field Assistant R2.02, an Android application intended for use during field inspections of industrial facilities. With the app installed on a generic Android tablet, personnel can enjoy access in the field to checklists, manuals, and many other kinds of documents, thus increasing the quality and efficiency of the work performed during routine patrols of manufacturing sites.

At many industrial plants, field inspections are performed periodically by staff patrolling defined routes, checking field instruments and equipment at specific points along the way to keep the facilities and equipment safe and in good working order. While the common practice has been for the results of these inspections to be manually recorded on a printed checklist that is then submitted for review, many end users have expressed the wish to be able to directly enter the check results onto a mobile device such as a tablet. They also indicated that it is a challenge to select and take with them on these patrols all the documents that they must be able to quickly reference, such as inspection histories and equipment manuals.

With Field Assistant R2.02, personnel can now enjoy ready access to all the checklists and related documents that are needed when performing equipment and instrument inspections in the field. In addition to being able to consult and fill out these documents as needed, they will have the ability to take pictures and record videos needed to report their inspection results.

Product features

The main features of this new product are as follows:

1. Access to digital checklists and related documents

Via the Field Assistant R2.02 user interface, users can access both digital checklists and related documents such as operating manuals, specifications documents, and installation manuals.

The use of digital checklists eliminates the cumbersome process of making handwritten entries and lessens the chance of data entry errors, and they are also easier to update. Pictures and videos can be taken easily, and inserted in a checklist.

By attaching QR Code labels or near-field communications (NFC) tags to each piece of equipment and associating them with related documents in advance, users need only to scan the code label or tag with the tablet to view all the associated documents while performing a patrol. Auxiliary functions such as the issuance of alerts for abnormal readings are also provided.

The checklists and related documents can also be downloaded from a server and saved on the tablet, so Field Assistant R2.02 can be easily used in places where there is no Internet access.

2. Data linkage with Operations Management package

Data accessed using Field Assistant R2.02 can be linked with the data that is recorded and managed using the OpreX Operational Risk Management: Operations Management software package. The Operations Management software assists plant operations and management personnel by facilitating the sharing of information on items such as unusual events, work progress, and operation workflows. By digitalising and standardising how this data is handled, this software helps plant personnel carry out their work correctly, safely, and efficiently, and thereby enhances corporate value.

The data linkage between Field Assistant R2.02 and Operations Management allows manufacturing and maintenance personnel to better coordinate their activities. This improves the efficiency of operations management by managing the transfer of work instructions from operators to site staff. It also helps with producing handover reports and work reports containing pictures or videos taken on site.

Field Assistant R2.02 can run on tablets that support Google’s Android mobile operating system. Versions running under other operating systems are also for release.

For more information contact Christie Cronje, Yokogawa South Africa, +27 11 831 6300, [email protected], www.yokogawa.com/za



Credit(s)



Share this article:
Share via emailShare via LinkedInPrint this page

Further reading:

Why choose between Capex and Opex if you can Totex?
Schneider Electric South Africa IT in Manufacturing
In a sector marked by cyclical demand, high capital intensity, and increasing regulatory and sustainability pressures, mining, minerals and metals (MMM) companies are re-evaluating how they approach procurement and investment.

Read more...
AI and the smart factory
Schneider Electric South Africa IT in Manufacturing
Imagine walking into a factory where machines can think ahead, predict problems before they happen and automatically make adjustments to realise peak performance. This isn’t science fiction, it’s happening right now as AI continues to transform how we run industrial operations.

Read more...
Why your supply chain should be a competitive advantage
Schneider Electric South Africa IT in Manufacturing
The last five years have placed unprecedented strain on global supply chains. Leading companies are turning the challenge into an opportunity to transform their supply chains into a competitive advantage.

Read more...
Why AI will never truly understand machines
Wearcheck IT in Manufacturing
Cutting-edge technology and solutions powered by AI are embraced by specialist condition monitoring company, WearCheck, where the extreme accuracy of data used to assess and diagnose machine health is paramount.

Read more...
Buildings and microgrids for a greener future
Schneider Electric South Africa IT in Manufacturing
Buildings are no longer passive consumers of power. Structures of almost every size are evolving into dynamic energy ecosystems capable of generating, storing and distributing their own electricity. Forming part of this exciting transformation are microgrids.

Read more...
Traditional data centres are not fit for purpose
IT in Manufacturing
Traditional data centre designs are falling short, with nearly half of IT leaders admitting their current infrastructure does not support energy or carbon-reduction goals. New research commissioned by Lenovo reveals that data centre design must evolve to future-proof businesses.

Read more...
AI agents for digital environment management in SA
IT in Manufacturing
The conversation about artificial intelligence in South Africa has shifted rapidly over the past year. Among the technologies changing the pace of business are AI agents - autonomous, task-driven systems designed to operate with limited human input.

Read more...
AI-powered maintenance in future-ready data centres
Schneider Electric South Africa IT in Manufacturing
The data centre marketplace often still relies on outdated maintenance methods to manage mission-critical equipment. Condition-Based Maintenance (CBM) is powered by AI and is fast becoming a necessity in ensuring both competitiveness and resilience.

Read more...
Powering up data centre mega development
IT in Manufacturing
Parker Hannifin has secured a major contract to supply key equipment for nearly 30 aeroderivative gas turbines powering a new hyperscale data centre in Texas.

Read more...
Building resilient supply chains through smarter e-procurement
RS South Africa IT in Manufacturing
In a time of constant disruption, from supply chain uncertainty to rising operational costs, businesses that embrace digital procurement are better positioned to stay competitive and resilient.

Read more...









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.




© Technews Publishing (Pty) Ltd | All Rights Reserved