SmartFactory, a leading provider of solutions that add intelligence into manufacturing processes to drive continuous improvement, knowledge transfer and data-based decision making, today (15 June) announced a new release of software for it's Work Area Performance System (WAPS).
This is also the first commercial partnership with the NIMBUS centre at Cork Institute of Technology via CONFIRM, the Science Foundation Ireland Research Centre for Smart Manufacturing.
“This new release builds on our existing proven platform to allow even faster configuration and commissioning for our clients.” said Brendan Sheppard, CEO SmartFactory.
“Implementing an Industry 4.0 solution doesn’t have to be complicated,” said Sheppard. “At its heart, it’s about getting people away from paper and spreadsheets, and giving them tools they need to capture and analyse data, and visualise KPIs.”
WAPS from SmartFactory is a non-invasive retrofit system that captures process data in real-time, giving actionable intelligence to optimise operational performance.
“When we visit companies, we find the same things time and again: they are really good at innovating with new products, but their production processes haven’t changed in years,” said Sheppard. “When it comes to the Internet of Things and Industry 4.0, lots of companies are doing nothing, because doing nothing is better than spending a lot of money doing something and getting it wrong.”
SmartFactory’s experience of manufacturing areas has provided a valuable resource to firms both in Ireland and overseas for many years and this new development will provide a platform to bring new and existing clients further along the advanced manufacturing journey.
Dr Bill O’Leary General Manager of CONFIRM spoke at the launch and said; “Confirm are delighted via our partners in CIT to be launching this new project with Smart Factory. This agreement, which represents the first of its kind within the Confirm Group, is mobilising best in class research to respond to the real needs of manufacturing in Ireland. By providing companies with a robust, relevant, and timely solution to managing disparate process data it enables prudent decision making and manufacturing optimisation. This in essence is what Confirm and smart manufacturing is all about”
Mark Whelan, Programme Manager for Technology Gateways at Enterprise Ireland congratulated all the partners; “This is a strong example of the benefits to commercial partners who work with Technology Gateways and provides an application directly within the vision of CONFIRM; allowing the transformation of industry to a smart manufacturing ecosystem”.