Case Study: Integrating Fluid Analysis with Business Systems

Gwyn Simmonds, POLARIS Laboratories

Description

Just like your phone, computer or tablet; Engines, Hydraulics, Gearboxes, and other types of industrial equipment are now connected devices. This means that the integration possibilities are endless in relation to the Industrial Internet of Things (IIOT). However, this does not mean that this is common practise in many companies’ maintenance and reliability programs. Many companies and Equipment Manufacturers continue to manage and operate data in individual silos which is both inefficient and lacks the prescriptive nature that integrated data can provide to the user.

Why Connect?

Depending on your industry, how you import, measure, store, and interpret data will differ according to the data you are gathering. Mining Excavators will use Telematics to measure certain parameters related to the equipment and operating environment. An industrial gearbox may be monitored by several Condition Monitoring techniques, including Vibration, Thermography, Ultrasound as well as Fluid Analysis. With all of this data stored in either an Off-the-shelf, or bespoke CMMS system, alongside additional data from sensors or management data. Thirdly, many organisations manage multiple data streams in an ERP type system. Regardless of what industry or data management system you use, the connections between these data streams and your Fluid Analysis results are inherently possible with the technologies and services available today. Integrating as many data points as possible will improve operational efficiency, lower Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) and increase Equipment Reliability.

Takeaways

1. Continuous Improvement in Fluid Analysis
2. Benefits of Data Connectivity and Integration
3. Fluid Analysis Program Management

Bio

Gwyn has 20 years of industrial fluid analysis experience. Before joining POLARIS Laboratories®, Gwyn served the oil and fuel segments of the European Market at ALcontrol (Wearcheck) UK Ltd. During his tenure at ALcontrol, he learned many aspects of the industry while serving as a lab technician, lab supervisor, key account manager and diagnostician. Since joining POLARIS Laboratories in 2014, he has served as European Sales Manager, Director of International Sales and now as Executive Director, has responsibility for Group Sales and Marketing.