Supercharging manufacturing field service productivity

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT) are fundamentally changing the way that manufacturers are able to respond to challenges

Globalisation, changing consumer preferences and evolving government policies have exponentially increased competition across the industry and have heightened pressures for manufacturers to outperform their counterparts. 

As a result, it has never been more important for manufacturers to increase their competitive advantage, particularly when it comes to enhancing field service operations. 

AI and machine inefficiencies 

To fully leverage the capabilities of AI, manufacturers should seek to assess the potential damage caused by machine inefficiencies. Limited routine maintenance, machine malfunctions and the inability to get operations back online causes an immediate halt to productivity - causing time-consuming and costly delays that reduce the chance of closing the gap between manufacturing peers. 

Consistency within productivity has created huge challenges for companies, with the technicians, inspectors and repairmen that are tasked with fixing machinery issues often spending upwards of 20% of their time preparing for productivity rather than actually being productive. However, manufacturers could put an end to avoidable disruptions by embracing connected field service. 

What is connected field service? 

Connected field service is powered by the IoT and the cloud. In manufacturing, it refers to the idea of connected devices sending information directly to service providers about the condition of manufacturing machinery and equipment, as well as the potential need for repair. 

Prior to this technology, both manufacturing managers and field technicians had little to no knowledge of any potential underlying maintenance issues, and no indication as to what had caused the resulting malfunction. 

What are the benefits?

Ends time-consuming repair times

With connected field service, field workers are provided with unlimited access to the complexities of the machine without the necessity for time-consuming manuals, and the detailed data shared between connected devices allows technicians to thoroughly prepare for maintenance and repairs prior to arriving on site.  

Predictive maintenance 

By leveraging the capabilities of AI, connected equipment can be fitted with multiple sensors that transmit data in real time, such as status indicators. When these sensors are connected to a work order management software, predictive maintenance and a ‘just in time’ approach can be established. 

Service providers are then able to monitor the equipment and anticipate when breakdowns will occur using algorithms – increasing the operational benefits of the equipment and boosting the productivity of the field worker. 

Furthermore, the necessity for technicians to be deployed can be eliminated by fully automating predictive maintenance procedures. If an anomaly in the regular programming of a machine occurs, workflows can be initiated automatically to resolve the issue through self-healing. 

Optimised productivity 

When a physical presence on site is necessary, technicians are provided with a wealth of information that wouldn’t be possible without the benefits of connected devices, including the model and serial numbers of equipment, repair guides and their maintenance history. Therefore, service workers can immediately begin working on the defective machinery upon arrival at the site. 

The health, usage and cycle time of connected equipment can be consistently monitored – as such, technicians are able to spot potential problems before their manufacturing customers notice a disturbance and can undertake the necessary machinery works before an overarching system failure occurs. 

Why now?

Beyond the indisputable benefits of machine optimisation, a data-driven approach, connected to the cloud and backed by AI, allows manufacturers to reimagine the role of field service operations within their business 

Colin Crow is managing director of Nexer UK

For more information: 

nexergroup.com

Tel: 2031 376076