BFPA Directory 2019

Digital transformation in the real world The mobile sector has been ahead of the game in terms of the Internet of Things (IoT) for a number of years. Industrial manufacturing is trying to catch up by adopting some of the IoT technology used within the mobile space. However, the use- cases for more stationary plant and equipment used within industry can of course be quite different and pose their own particular challenges with regard to greater connectivity and data usage. Although mobile is the predominant market for IoT, Parker has customers in both spaces, and whether we are addressing the needs of a mobile customer or customer looking for more factory automation, we try to use the same Parker IoT platform because in most cases the platform will be able to manage use cases in both verticals very effectively. There is still a comparatively low penetration of IoT within the industrial space; most of these companies tend to be in the early stages of implementation. A large proportion of some companies might already have an IoT strategy in place and are keen to get things up and running as quickly as possible. Challenges However, they can find it difficult to implement because of related challenges such as security or corporation support. There can also be misalignments between IT and OT – between the technology and operations people. So, these challenges can be major contributing factors to the comparatively low usage of IoT within the industrial marketplace. These are issues that need to be overcome before IoT can really start to get traction within the industrial sector. That said, I am confident that we will see increasing update of IoT within the industrial space as these types of issues get resolved. By comparison, IoT implementation in the mobile space is high. About 10 years ago when I first started in my role mobile implementation was at about 30%; now it stands at between 60 and 80%. As one example, one of our customers is a US- based global industrial machinery OEM. Within their assembly line production, they use an end-to-end IoT solution. They have the gateway, the antenna and all the connectivity – so they have the full circle. Not so long ago, only the largest OEMs could afford to develop complex proprietary control systems. But the recent introduction of versatile digital ecosystems connecting electronic control hardware and software to the Cloud is expected to be a game changer for mobile hydraulic machinery and equipment manufacturers. By empowering design engineers with real-time access to the most sophisticated data collection and monitoring capabilities, such systems are enabling OEMs to customise electro- hydraulic control parameters to meet highly specific application requirements. This levelling of the playing field is catalysing a new era of mobile machine and equipment design innovation, as OEMs across industries, tiers and geographies develop customised solutions that digitally integrate their customers’ hydraulic and machine controls with IoT. Key advantages There are a number of major operational and safety advantages of integrated electro-hydraulic motion control platforms connecting mobile machinery and equipment to the IoT. Whether customers are managing a fleet of transport trucks, utility vehicles, refuse collection trucks, and material handlers, or complex construction, agricultural and mining machinery, the ability to conduct real-time monitoring of vehicle functions and operator performance enables: Increased productivity through predictable maintenance and improved uptime Improved customer satisfaction and loyalty through proactive data-driven service engagement Improved equipment operator safety, including the ability to field-validate training certifications Optimised efficiency in energy and fuel usage The ability to continually track performance variables such as vehicle locations, engine speeds, torque, pressure levels, and aspects of operator behaviour The ability to selectively share data across the distribution and supply channels by assigning multi-tiered user types and permissions Comprehensive reporting for analysis and improvement From an OEM perspective, real-time monitoring of mobile equipment conditions provides the additional advantage of expediting repair and maintenance operations and facilitating after-market component sales and support services. The complex mechanical, electronic, and hydraulic systems used by mobile equipment and machinery, when supported by digital ecosystems, are expected to usher in a new era of mobile solution innovation. Mobile in the fast lane 40 www.bfpa.co.uk By Hector A. Rodriguez, IoT Product Manager, Parker Motion System Group. The BFPA Yearbook invited key spokespeople from a group of association member companies to consider where the market currently stands on the journey towards the greater realisation of digital transformation concepts such as Industry 4.0 and the Industrial Internet of Things…