Optimizing manufacturing process management with data acquisition

One of the biggest challenges: getting the factory connected

How do you connect an entire production line? This is one of the most daunting questions in today’s data-driven factory. Often entombed in silos, some of this data is hard to access and use. And that makes it difficult to connect other systems. This inaccessibility impedes digitalization projects. Engineers will struggle to maintain scripts and have to jump through hoops to adapt the system when requirements change.

It pays to think about how to capture the right data beforehand, when you are planning to deploy new machines or revamp the assembly line. If you want to use process and machine data effectively to connect the production line and scale data-driven use cases to size, this is the only way to go.

Also listen to our data analytics expert Marcus Weber in the Factory21 Pocast, talking about how companies can use data-based decisions to increase quality in production and reduce costs.

Listen to the podcast (available in German)

Our services

Let us help you meet this challenge head on. Opt for our customized solutions to connect your factory and boost its efficiency and productivity.

• Cloud (IoT & connectivity): To make the most of data-driven innovations, you need solutions that break down data silos and link up the disparate systems of a heterogeneous IT landscape. We can build these solutions for you, putting relevant data at your fingertips for use with analytics tools and AI assistants.
• Data engineering: Data is a rising force in business – we believe it is a make-or-break factor for business success. Taking a holistic approach to data engineering, our services cover the entire data lifecycle, from data acquisition at the sensor to data delivery and analysis in the cloud.
• Data governance: Let us show you how to turn the requirements of the GDPR, the EU Data Act, and the EU AI Act into strategic advantages for your company. We are your go-to partner for everything from holistic strategy consulting to technical and organizational implementation.
• Strategy consulting for smart factories: Let us join forces to develop a strategy tailored to transform your facility into a smart factory. And if you are looking to plan a new factory, we can help with that too. Our holistic, three-phase approach will enable you to put your strategy into action and maximize its impact.

Taking a holistic approach to collecting data

Experience teaches that efforts to connect and control systems and processes succeed when engineers take a holistic approach to gathering data. The first to-do is to address the pain-points in the process. For example, it may be useful to monitor machine utilization and adjust the order sequence to reduce set-up times. The next step is to select the right sensors to capture the appropriate data points for the identified metric.

Once sensors are in place, you need to verify the data and assure its quality. Then you can mine it to gain valuable insights and take appropriate actions. Adjustments after commissioning ensure that the recorded data can also be used reliably in the future to optimize production processes.

ITK Engineering’s Transparency Toolkit is a comprehensive solution for data collection that accommodates a wide range of sensors. This easy-to-use platform serves to collect, analyze, and visualize manufacturing data in real time. It also supports data quality assurance and provides the underpinning for scalable solutions.

Fast data acquisition and visualization with the ITK Transparency Toolkit

If you are looking for a quick, versatile way of capturing machine and process data on demand, your search ends with the ITK Engineering Transparency Toolkit. Portable and easy to set up, this prototyping kit is about the size of a toolbox. It features various components that use standard communication protocols – OPC UA, MQTT, AMQP, and DDS – to acquire data from multiple vendors’ machines and devices. The Transparency Toolkit can be tailored to suit your processes simply by integrating additional external sensors. Installation takes place right on site at the machine.