According to Deloitte, predictive maintenance could save industrial companies billions annually from unplanned downtime
The cost of unplanned downtime to industrial companies is estimated to be more than US$50bn annually. To counter such downtime and prevent the costs from occurring in the first place, equipment and components need to be maintained and repaired or replaced before they can cause a failure or shutdown.
With predictive maintenance based on captured real-time asset data, companies can identify when a component or machinery is due for service or suddenly requires replacement before it fails. This significantly reduces downtime and production losses. At the same time, maintenance and work routines can be planned more effectively with this information.
Predictive maintenance, however, also requires mobile devices that can be used in hazardous areas within an industrial site. Because of the prevailing conditions, intrinsically safe devices that are specially developed and certified for use in hazardous areas are needed.
Smart devices for digital workflows in explosion-proof areas
With tablets and smartphones, the Pepperl+Fuchs brand, ECOM Instruments, offers smart devices especially for use in explosion-protected areas. The Tab-Ex 03 is available in the variants DZ1 for use in Zone 1/21 and Division 1, DZ2 for Zone 2/22 and Division 2, and D2 for Division 2. Based on the Samsung Galaxy Tab Active 3, the Tab-Ex 03 combines state-of-the-art technology for harsh environments and use in hazardous areas. Samsung Knox ensures high data and device security. With the Samsung DeX mode, it is possible to quickly use the tablet as a desktop. This allows to monitor various data immediately and to view dashboards required for maintenance on a larger display. This flexibility also eliminates the need for a second computer when a mobile worker is temporarily working in the office. The tablet's large screen with a resolution of 1,920 x 1,200 pixels is ideal for viewing digital documents, checklists, maintenance or repair instructions, for example, in greater detail than on a smartphone display. The powerful Tab-Ex 03 is designed to be operated with gloves or the S Pen stylus.
Optimal connectivity and advanced features for mobile work environments
The smartphones in the Smart-Ex series are ideally equipped for flexible use in public and private networks of mobile phone providers or companies. Thanks to fast and secure transmission of large amounts of data, users benefit from state-of-the-art functions for communication and collaboration, such as remote support or video conferencing.
An important sub-area of predictive maintenance includes a company's asset management, which can be carried out via smartphones and tablets. This includes not only the inspection of equipment and components based on sensor data, but also the availability and localisation of necessary spare parts in the warehouse. This means that reordering processes can be triggered as soon as the warehouse stock runs low. Machine parts can be replaced several weeks or even several months in advance before they reach the end of their service life.
In addition, the Smart-Ex series can be combined with Visor-Ex 01 smart glasses to enable mobile workers to solve tricky tasks that require additional information and continuous communication. The integrated microphone of the Visor-Ex 01 allows direct communication with an expert who is not available on site. The remote expert, for example, sees the same as the mobile worker thanks to video transmission and can thus better support predictive maintenance.
The operating systems of the Tab-Ex 03 and the Smart-Ex series also meet the latest technical standards: both have the latest AndroidTM operating systems, which optimally support communication within public or private networks.
