Modern maintenance plays a crucial role in the success of companies
It is not only Economics Minister Habeck and other political figures who see this year's Hannover Messe as a "driving force for the beginning of the upswing" in Germany and Europe. This optimism is based on the increasing digitization of production through the use of innovative technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), cloud-based IoT solutions and automation. This development is also driven by the increasing demand for eco-efficient solutions for resource optimization and sustainable production.
Since the Hannover Messe functions more as an image and networking event due to its broad spectrum, it offered ample opportunity to discuss the strategic aspect of the solutions presented. Numerous exhibitors confirmed that German industry, including medium-sized companies, has finally recognized the need for digitalization and that demand for corresponding solutions is increasing. As a result, suppliers are expanding their portfolios and increasingly offering digital components and services.
Successful digitization usually begins with the collection and evaluation of system data. A task that maintenance engineers have long been carrying out if they want to do their job well. But now this data is also becoming interesting for other departments and the maintenance engineer is moving more into the spotlight.
Many providers have also recognized this and offer their solutions with a maintenance approach. The digital data recording of the system status always includes maintenance-relevant values. This data can then be automatically analyzed using artificial intelligence. Deviations trigger corresponding messages and actions in the shop floor management system. And the data is fed into cloud-based IoT platforms or a digital twin as part of predictive maintenance in order to automatically restore the optimal current system status and avoid future failures.
Sustainable, holistic asset management increases production efficiency and eco-efficiency and reduces operating costs, among other things by avoiding downtime. Ideally, the entire life cycle of a plant can be optimized before it is put into operation.
The bottom line is that as a result of digital transformation, a company can produce more with less effort, starting with maintenance. Maintenance thus becomes a profit center!
However, this is not the only reason why more and more providers are including maintenance solutions in their programs as the basis of a digitalization strategy. Legal regulations on plant documentation make consistent, digital data collection unavoidable. Regulations such as the Supply Chain Act and sustainability requirements can only be met digitally. And the shortage of skilled workers can only be solved through digitalization.
More and more companies are also discovering additional business areas related to maintenance. In the future, plant operators may no longer purchase individual components, but rather a complete solution. They do not even have to invest in the plant, but pay the provider, who then also takes care of plant operation, for example based on the number of units or operating times. This may still be a radical approach, but at least after-sales offers in the direction of plant service are becoming increasingly popular, according to the trade fair participants. Maintenance plays a key role in all of these business areas.
There are bright times ahead for maintenance. The image of the maintenance engineer is changing from an annoying cost generator who is only seen when the machine breaks down to an important contact for efficient production processes. And InstandX will accompany this development.
If you want to find out more about this topic, there is a very interesting article about it in the current issue of the Industrieanzeiger.
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