Representative End User Clients
Representative Automation Clients
Representative Software Clients
The first ARC Industry Leadership Forum Singapore on August 1, 2024, titled Accelerate Transformation in the Age of AI, Open Automation, and Sustainability, saw over 200 delegates networking and sharing best practices. Hexagon, a global technology company known for its advanced software and hardware solutions, participated as a Gold Sponsor. As part of Hexagon's ongoing commitment to innovation, it is focused on two pivotal frameworks that are crucial for driving efficiency and resilience: Enterprise Asset Management (EAM) and Asset Performance Management (APM). Both are vital for navigating the complex challenges that manufacturers face today. While the company might be recognized from its historical brands like Intergraph and Leica, its current offerings span multiple verticals, including manufacturing, infrastructure safety, and Asset Lifecycle Intelligence (ALI). In the session on Best Practices in Smart Manufacturing, Cedric Beltrame, Account Director and Inside Sales Manager, Hexagon spoke about how EAM and APM intersect to address the challenges faced in the manufacturing sector. This blog highlights the salient points of his presentation; it can be watched in entirety here.
The Manufacturing Landscape
Manufacturers are facing a multitude of challenges that demand urgent attention and strategic management. Supply chain disruptions—triggered by global events and localized issues—can halt production and create significant backlogs, while aging equipment raises the risk of unexpected breakdowns that hinder output. Additionally, the aging workforce poses a critical challenge, as experienced personnel retire and the need for skilled workers intensifies. Cybersecurity threats add another layer of complexity, necessitating robust protection for sensitive data and systems. Manufacturers also grapple with sustainability goals, striving to balance efficiency with environmental responsibilities amid tightening cost pressures where every dollar counts. Managing order backlogs further complicates the landscape, as meeting customer expectations while maintaining production efficiency is essential. In this challenging environment, prioritizing and leveraging assets strategically is crucial to mitigating risks and enhancing productivity.
The Connection Between EAM and APM
Historically, EAM and APM operated as separate entities within asset management. However, their integration is increasingly recognized as a powerful approach to optimize asset performance and operational efficiency.
What is EAM?
Enterprise Asset Management encompasses the management of physical assets across their lifecycle. It focuses on maintaining and improving the performance of these assets to maximize their return on investment. Key goals include:
- Uptime: Ensuring assets operate effectively to avoid production delays.
- Cost Control: Reducing unnecessary expenditures related to maintenance and repairs.
- Asset Longevity: Extending the lifespan of equipment through proactive management.
- Safety: Mitigating risks associated with asset failure, which could jeopardize employee safety and compliance.
What is APM?
Asset Performance Management, on the other hand, delves deeper into the performance of specific critical assets. It utilizes data analytics, machine learning, and predictive maintenance to optimize asset health and efficiency. APM enables manufacturers to:
- Assess: Evaluate the condition and performance of key assets.
- Monitor: Continuously track asset performance through integrated data.
- Act: Make informed decisions based on data-driven insights to optimize maintenance and reduce downtime.
Leveraging EAM and APM in Smart Manufacturing
The integration of Enterprise Asset Management (EAM) and Asset Performance Management (APM) fosters a comprehensive approach to asset management, enabling manufacturers to navigate complexities with greater efficiency. This synergy enhances asset utilization by ensuring effective monitoring and maintenance, which boosts uptime and maximizes throughput. Additionally, leveraging mobile applications and self-learning tools enhances workforce productivity, equipping employees with the skills needed to operate modern technologies and processes. Strategic asset management optimizes working capital, allowing manufacturers to make informed investments and minimize unnecessary expenditures while prioritizing essential assets for maintenance and upgrades. Furthermore, the combination of EAM’s holistic asset overview with APM’s detailed performance analytics empowers data-driven decision making, enabling organizations to rely on real-time data and predictive insights for improved operational outcomes.
Panel Discussion
Encapsulating Cedric’s views during the panel discussion:
On regulations and sustainability: In Singapore, for example, the bus industry adheres to Euro 5 regulations, which impose specific limits on CO2 emissions and fuel consumption. This directly affects us as a maintenance service provider. We need to ensure that buses operate under conditions that align with these regulations, meaning we must carefully consider how they are driven and how their emissions will be managed. Regulations vary by country, and our customers often ask us how they can ensure compliance. We work closely with them to provide solutions that meet these requirements.
At Hexagon, we also prioritize sustainability in our own practices. For instance, we have eliminated printed brochures and transitioned to digital formats. This aligns with our commitment to environmental responsibility and our ECSG initiatives. We actively engage with our customers to explore how our software solutions can support their sustainability efforts as well.
On deploying sensors: Sensors and captors aren't new, but a few years ago, IoT became a hot topic. Companies realized that capturing data isn't enough; it needs to be stored and analyzed. Tech companies have focused on managing this data, which is why we created digital environments for simulations. In the real world you only get one chance; in the digital realm, you can test and analyze outcomes. With advancements in microelectronics, sensors are cheaper and more effective, but we must be strategic about data usage.