Buying Guide to Machine Monitoring Software

A screenshot of Scytec machine monitoring software, showing the uptime, downtime, and productivity of various machines.Machine monitoring software has numerous benefits, but selecting the right software is essential. Every manufacturer has different needs, which is why it’s important to consider these 4 variables when choosing the machine monitoring software for your shop floor.

    1. Ease of Use

When selecting machine monitoring software, you need to select an option that is easy to use for everyone. That includes everything from operators and executives to managers. Examine the user interfaces and ensure that whatever software you choose is easy to use for all parties.

    1. On-Premise vs. Cloud-Based Monitoring

There are two types of monitoring solutions, cloud-based and on-premise. On-premise is where the data is stored on-site with your server and database. While this is often a cheaper option, there are limitations. Cloud-based monitoring allows anyone with access permissions to view the data from anywhere since it is stored in the cloud. With any internet-enabled device, you can view the data. Cloud-based monitoring also reduces the IT support required, because you do not need to buy or maintain expensive on-site servers. Whatever your preference, Scytec DataXchange offers both types of machine monitoring.

    1. Service – Training and Support

Something else to keep in mind is the customer service and support that you will receive. A lot of machine monitoring platforms provide initial training and customer service for initial issues, but that’s where the support stops. With Scytec DataXchange and Shop Floor Automations, you will get continual support and service to ensure that everything works properly. Our cloud model include support in the cost, so we must win your business each month.

    1. Analytics

When it comes to choosing the right machine monitoring software, you should also consider what analytics are offered. The data collected is pretty similar across platforms, but how that data is used and what reports can be produced vary widely. Be sure that the machine monitoring software you choose has the right data and analytics for your process. Your definition of a machine cycling may be different for different equipment since all machnes are not the same. Tool changes, multiple spindles, warm-up programs, and maintenance procedures also should be consider when looking at the data and how it’s acquired by the software.

What Machine Monitoring Solution Does Shop Floor Automations Recommend?

At Shop Floor Automations, we want our clients to have the best. That is why we recommend Scytec DataXchange for machine monitoring. This software is available in an on-premise or cloud-based package and starts at only $45 per month.

Overall, Scytec DataXchange offers the following specs:

  • On-Premise or Cloud-Based
  • Starts at $45 per machine, per month, via Cloud
  • We house the servers – you provide the data!
  • Real-time data from any CNC control/equipment, regardless of the machine age
  • Unlimited number of reporting and charting licenses
  • View & report on your data results from anywhere
  • Track multiple types of cycle time

If you want to take advantage of everything Scytec DataXchange has to offer as a machine monitoring software, Shop Floor Automations can help! Since , we’ve been offering assistance implementing machine monitoring software and we would be happy to do that same for you. Give us a call today at (619) 461-4000 to learn more or request a quote.

To learn more about the machine monitoring solutions and other hardware and software solutions that we offer, visit us on the web at Shop Floor Automations.

The First Step to Industrial IoT – Machine Monitoring

A smart tablet with a 3d bar graph and pie chart extending from its screen accompanied by a CNC machine and text that says "Machine Monitoring".Industrial IoT is the future of manufacturing because it allows plans to reduce costs and improve productivity and profitability without compromising product quality. However, if you want to truly take advantage of what IIoT can offer, you need to have accurate and real-time data to work with. That is why machine monitoring software is so essential to have.

What is Machine Monitoring?

Machine monitoring is the installation of machine monitoring systems connected to your equipment throughout your factory. With machine monitoring, you can bring older machines onto the network to collect data from them. The easy to use software can collect, analyze and translate data automatically in a way the provides fast and reliable information. The type of information that can be collected through machine monitoring software includes production level, work order status, quality results, the condition of the machine, and even downtime data.

Benefits of Machine Monitoring

There are many benefits of installing machine monitoring on your machines. Smart machines are the basis of IIoT and the best way to give yourself a competitive advantage in the manufacturing world.

Not only can you reduce waste with machine monitoring, but you can also improve efficiency across your entire production process. With improved communication across the organization, the manager and operator can also improve efficiencies. It’s not just immediate, real-time access to data that matters, but machine monitoring in conjunction with IIoT can also provide essential actionable insights.

What Machine Monitoring Solutions Does Shop Floor Automations offer?

At Shop Floor Automations, our main machine monitoring solution is Scytec DataXchange. Scytec DataXchange offers the following specifications:

Scytec DataXchange:

  • On-Premise or Cloud-Based
  • Starts at $45 per machine, per month, via Cloud
  • We house the servers – you provide the data!
  • Real-time data from any CNC control/equipment, regardless of the machine age
  • Unlimited number of reporting and charting licenses
  • View & report on your data results from anywhere
  • Track multiple types of cycle time

To learn more about Scytec DataXchange and the benefits it can provide your shop floor, contact our experienced team.

Contact Shop Floor Automations for Scytec DataXchange at Your Facility!

If you want to implement Scytec DataXchange in your facility, Shop Floor Automations can help. We have over years of experience implementing machine monitoring solutions in Dallas TX and beyond. Whether you want to install Scytec DataXchange on a cloud-based subscription or Predator MDC on up to 4,000 CNC machines, we can help. We have automated thousands of machines and helped numerous companies improve their OEE through machine monitoring. If you are interested in implement machine monitoring at your facility, give us a call today at (619) 461-4000!

To learn more about the machine monitoring solutions and other hardware and software solutions that we offer, visit us on the web at Shop Floor Automations.

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We Are Open For Business As We Are Deemed An Essential Business

Shop Floor Automations is open for business as we are deemed an essential business. For your machine automation needs, contact Shop Floor Automations today.

Shop Floor Automations would like to inform our customers that we are open for business as we are deemed an essential business! Please see the memorandum below for more information. If you have any questions or would like to request our machine automation, hardware or software solutions, contact us today at (619) 461-4000 or info@shopfloorautomations.com.

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Monitoring OEE Can Maximize Your Shop Floor Productivity

If you are looking to maximize your shop floor productivity and improve your OEE, Shop Floor Automations can help!

What is OEE?

OEE stands for overall equipment efficiency. Simply put, OEE measures the efficiency of a machine and takes into account the availability, performance, and quality of a machine. Mathematically, OEE is equal to the Availability x Performance x Quality.

As far as scores go, a perfect OEE score is 100%. This equates to perfect production that only manufactures good parts, as quickly as possible, without any unplanned downtime.

Machine Monitoring Can Help You Improve Your OEE

While an OEE score of 100% is what manufacturers strive for, a score of 40% is more common for companies that are just starting to monitor their performance. This leaves a lot of room for improvement.

So, how does machine monitoring come into the equation? Manufacturers are always striving to identify and solve problems, but they often struggle to determine the root cause of the problem. It is important to not just know how to calculate OEE, but also have accurate data to base decisions off of. That is why machine monitoring software is necessary. Machine monitoring software can provide real-time metrics, including cycle time, scrap time and downtime, in addition to downtime reasons. By utilizing real-time data, you can make informed decisions to improve your OEE.

What Machine Monitoring Solutions does Shop Floor Automations offer?

At Shop Floor Automations, we specialize in hardware and software solutions geared towards improving shop floor efficiencies. The machine monitoring solutions that we offer include:

Scytec DataXchange:

  • On-Premise or Cloud-Based
  • Starts at $45 per machine, per month, via Cloud
  • We house the servers – you provide the data!
  • Real-time data from any CNC control/equipment, regardless of the machine age
  • Unlimited number of reporting and charting licenses
  • View & report on your data results from anywhere
  • Track multiple types of cycle time

Predator MDC:

  • Monitor 1 to 4k CNC Machines
  • Over 30k Reports & Charts
  • Automatic & Manual shop floor data collection
  • Real-time machine, job & part dashboards
  • Track cycle time, idle, setup, teardown, downtime, & more
  • Multiple plant support metrics
  • Integrate with Touch HMI to replace proprietary hardware

If you’re ready to implement machine monitoring software in your facility, Shop Floor Automations can help.

Contact Shop Floor Automations for Machine Monitoring Solutions to Improve Your OEE!

If you are looking to improve the OEE at your facility, Shop Floor Automations can help. Since , we’ve been helping clients throughout California and Texas implement machine monitoring equipment on their shop floor. From scrap time to cycle time, our machine monitoring solutions can help you take your OEE to the next level. To obtain more information or request a quote, give us a call today at (619) 461-4000!

To learn more about the machine monitoring solutions that we offer, visit us on the web at Shop Floor Automations.

How to Improve Your OEE With Industrial IIoT

An infographic comparing a "Nature Cloud" vs an "IIoT Cloud".OEE stands for overall equipment efficiency and is tracked via the data obtained through machine monitoring software. By incorporating the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) and machine monitoring solutions, you can improve your overall OEE.

How to Improve OEE with the Industrial Internet of Things

By relying on the IIoT, you can improve your OEE. With a smart, connected factory, improvements are driven by the integration of computer and machine. With machine monitoring equipment like Scytec DataXchange, you can gather real-time information and make informed decisions.

IIoT helps because technology can work faster than humans, and also perform at a microlevel that goes beyond what humans can accomplish. Computers also work faster and more accurately and can analyze data and predict trends that are not so easily detected by humans.

Barriers to Industrial IoT Adoption

While it seems obvious that manufacturing companies should implement IIoT, there are some barriers to overcome, including:

  •  IT Skillset: One of the biggest barriers to IIoT adoption is the lack of skills and access that is required to deploy IIoT. Many companies are not up to date on what such a deployment would look like or even require. In addition to technology, IT skillsets must also be upgraded in order to implement IIoT.
  • Data Interoperability: Another barrier to IIoT adoption is data inoperability. Data is often siloed in functional areas of specific departments or is otherwise not compatible for analysis. Thankfully, there are options available to bring legacy equipment onto the network so you can obtain real-time and accurate data.
  • Network Security: Last, but not least, security is also a barrier to IIoT deployment. New connections often create the possibility of a breach and manufacturers and service providers often debate who should provide end security solutions.

Despite the barriers to adoption, it is important to deploy the IIoT on your shop floor to improve your OEE. Thankfully, Shop Floor Automations can help you improve your OEE with our machine monitoring solutions.

Shop Floor Automations Can Help You Improve Your OEE!

At Shop Floor Automations, we can help you improve your OEE at your shop. We’ve been in the business of offering machine monitoring software since and can help install Scytec DataXchange at your shop to improve your OEE.

If you don’t believe us, you should believe Derek at Aero Precision who says, “We have been able to increase our productivity by 25 percent just monitoring the machine utilization.” Jerry at Tech Manufacturing LLC also benefited from our machine monitoring solutions, stating, “There was minimal startup cost and it requires little software management on the user end. Benefits are significant increases in machine utilization, better internal information flow.”

We’re proud of the service we offer and would be happy to help take your OEE to the next level. Give us a call today at (619) 461-4000 to get started!

To learn more about the machine monitoring and OEE improvement solutions that we offer, visit us on the web at Shop Floor Automations .