Improve your maintenance with IoT

Published: 2022-12-12
Written by: Linn Björklund
Image

Tired of guesstimating when you need to perform maintenance for your assets? The Internet of Things, or IoT, connects non-traditional computing devices to the internet and transfers their data over a network without human interaction. Use this data to create optimal maintenance routines for any piece of equipment in your facility.

Telematics data is a useful way to improve the efficiency of the maintenance of your assets. By combining real-time data with actionable insights, you keep your assets in optimal condition for production. You also reduce unplanned downtime and minimise repair costs. The question is; how do you best utilise your data to create actions around what maintenance needs to be done?

Speak with data, manage with facts

Many facilities use calendar-based maintenance routines, but what if you could actually build routines and maintenance actions based on real-time data from your assets?
For example, you can set up maintenance routines and actions for a certain asset that activate after a specific amount of active running time or production. Or you can set triggers that activate when a sensor goes outside a certain range that you have defined – such as vibration or temperature. That way, you always initiate maintenance at the right time – leading to improved availability and reduced maintenance costs for your assets.

What are the benefits of data-driven maintenance?

1. Maintenance based on usage, not just set intervals

The most fundamental benefit of IoT and data-driven maintenance is the fact that your routines are carried out exactly when they need to be – not too early nor too late. This leads to reduced unplanned downtime and minimised repair costs for your assets. It also enables better proactive maintenance.

2. Digital documentation and traceability

IoT improves the traceability of your assets. Each piece of equipment will have a complete logbook of previous values, meaning that you gain an overview of that specific asset’s maintenance history. This will in turn increase accountability amongst your staff and improve the timing of future checks. Digital documentation also comes in handy when e.g. creating reports for your management team or dealing with warranty claims.

3. The advantage of being in control

IoT data provides you with better control of your maintenance. Start by setting condition-based triggers for each piece of equipment, such as a range input. If a value goes outside that range, the system automatically creates a deviation or triggers a checklist that tells you precisely what needs to be done.

4. A place for everything, and everything in its place

A site often consists of several different machines from many different manufacturers – each with its own control system. The idea behind IoT is to integrate all of these into one platform. Modern IoT solutions support the integration of most control systems, allowing you to gather all your data in one place.

What to look for in a system for IoT

First of all, take a look at your facility’s existing data points and assess what new data points you want. It’s beneficial if your supplier has an easy way to integrate this data to an open API or fixed IoT integrations.
The system you pick mainly needs to support automatically triggered actions – like creating tasks and checklists – based on conditions such as range inputs, operating time, or alarms. Also, ensure that the system supplier can integrate your specific machinery into their platform. And don’t forget to check out the manufacturer’s own IoT – do they have integration or type of data you can utilise in your maintenance work?

Want to know what CheckProof can do for you?

CheckProof's easy-to-use app makes it easier to do the right thing at the right time. Discover how you can run world-class maintenance that is both cost-effective and sustainable.

Book a demo
Featured image for “Sustainable aggregates: challenges and solutions for a rapidly changing industry ”
2023-05-02

Sustainable aggregates: challenges and solutions for a rapidly changing industry 

Electrification, technological development, and tackling climate change are all top priorities for the aggregates industry. What are the main obstacles toward a more sustainable industry, and what actions must be taken to reach the climate goals going forward? Although the numbers are looking bleak, there’s a great deal of optimism among industry players and experts within sustainable technology.
Featured image for “Unannounced inspections? With these 6 steps, your plant is always ready ”
2023-03-22

Unannounced inspections? With these 6 steps, your plant is always ready 

All of a sudden, a government inspector walks into your plant. Before you could blink, they already noticed that one of your processing equipment is missing its guard. The next minute, you’re served a hefty fine, and your plant is ordered to shut down until it’s fixed. To prevent this from happening again: what steps can you take to ensure your plant is always ready for an inspection?
Featured image for “Health, safety, environment, and quality (HSEQ)”
2023-02-10

Health, safety, environment, and quality (HSEQ)

Without exaggeration, health and safety in the workplace is a matter of life and death. ILO (International Labour Organization) estimates the yearly number of work-related deaths globally to be nearly 2 million. Creating and maintaining a solid HSEQ framework is crucial for protecting your employees – but also your business – from harm. This comprehensive article will walk you through the key areas of HSEQ and what you need to set up a successful strategy.
Featured image for “Preventive Maintenance – Maximizing efficiency with CheckProof”
2023-01-13

Preventive Maintenance – Maximizing efficiency with CheckProof

Preventive maintenance is the practice of routinely inspecting and proactively servicing your facility’s equipment. This way, you’re able to notice minor issues and fix them before they turn into machine failure – in contrast to acting after. In this comprehensive article, we touch on everything from different types of preventive maintenance to implementing an efficient and future-proof maintenance plan.
Featured image for “Improve your maintenance with IoT”
2022-12-12

Improve your maintenance with IoT

Tired of guesstimating when you need to perform maintenance for your assets? The Internet of Things, or IoT, connects non-traditional computing devices to the internet and transfers their data over a network without human interaction. Use this data to create optimal maintenance routines for any piece of equipment in your facility.
Featured image for “How to make accountability a core value at your facility”
2022-12-12

How to make accountability a core value at your facility

When you return to work on Thursday morning, you soon notice that the feed conveyor still hasn’t been fixed. The technicians have a lot on their to-do list, but this is a high-priority matter that must have fallen between the cracks. You start to wonder: “How can I make my team more accountable?”
Featured image for “Highlights and insights from the Bauma trade fair”
2022-11-11

Highlights and insights from the Bauma trade fair

What were the hottest topics at the 2022 Bauma trade fair in Munich, Germany? What was a miniature wheel loader doing in the tech section? And did it all end with a big bang – or was it more of a beep? Get ready for a glimpse behind the scenes of this massive industry happening.
Featured image for “How Swerock reduces their maintenance costs through smart digitization”
2022-10-21

How Swerock reduces their maintenance costs through smart digitization

Data-driven optimization through digital tools has helped Swerock – a major Swedish construction material supplier – reduce their maintenance costs per produced metric ton by a third. Find out why Swerock’s Project Director Payman Namvar has chosen a somewhat unusual setup for his team’s maintenance work, and why he considers CheckProof the most modern maintenance system on the market today.
Featured image for “Let the games begin: how gamification can reduce idling in heavy industries”
2022-06-21

Let the games begin: how gamification can reduce idling in heavy industries

Breaking bad habits is hard, and forcing change top-down in bigger organisations is ineffective. That’s why you need to implement engaging elements into your heavy industries’ transformation, and gamification is a terrific tool for that. In this post, we’ll show you how activating core motivators can boost organisation-wide behavioural change.
Featured image for “How to establish a continuous improvement culture for your facility”
2022-06-17

How to establish a continuous improvement culture for your facility

Continuous improvement is exactly what it sounds like. You strive towards always doing better, because there’s always room for improvement. The practice lets you identify opportunities for production and equipment optimisation – resulting in higher efficiency and lower costs. The concept itself seems straightforward, but how do you establish a continuous improvement culture for your facility?