FAQs
Here you’ll find the most frequently asked questions about automation and Industry 4.0. Clicking on the question will take you directly to the answer.
FAQs – automation
An important driver of production when setting up a plant is the software-based support for engineering processes that uses virtual models of machines, plants, robot applications, and material flows.
Extensive libraries of virtual components – ranging from presses, robots, conveyor belts, and entire automation systems to individual sensors and actuators – make it easier to model processes.
Automation strategies can be tested in terms of their functionality and real behavior over time, which enables process sequences to be optimized.
Using digital engineering, you can achieve higher roll-out quality for automation and drive solution software, and identify design and sequence errors at an early stage.
The strategy of running a “real” commissioning process on the virtual model lets you simulate all current and future operating sequences in your production environment in real time and test them using the original automation software.
This lets you achieve higher roll-out quality for automation and drive solution software and identify design and sequence errors at an early stage.
Plant upgrades are an important lever for boosting productivity. Thanks to software-based support for engineering processes using virtual models, HEITEC tests the automation software for system conversions at the desktop to ensure it can be installed in the plant without errors – and with only minimal interruption of the production process.
HEITEC provides assistance and support with a comprehensive approach covering consulting and training for your employees, planning and design, and implementation and execution.
The foundation is a strategy that’s custom-coordinated with your requirements and also allows you to satisfy all relevant legal requirements.
During implementation, we work with you to determine the components and functions that may be at risk, in order to keep the quality-checking and validation processes as lean as possible.
Using tests tailored to your product, we ensure that both legal and quality requirements are observed.
Using EPLAN Electric P8, the HEITEC specialists prepare all the documentation you need to configure, document, and manage electrotechnical automation projects for new plants, plant expansions, and retrofits.
This means that you can automatically derive detailed evaluations based on the updated wiring diagrams. It guarantees consistency and integration across the entire plant.
An important productivity driver when upgrading a plant is the software-based support for engineering processes using virtual models of machines, plants, robot applications, and material flows.
This means that automation software can be developed and tested at the desktop to ensure that it can be installed in the plant without errors and with only minimal interruption of production.
As a Siemens Solution Partner, HEITEC specializes in configuration using the TIA Portal and offers you all the services you need to integrate new automation systems with new developments – or when expanding or retrofitting your machines and plants.
HEITEC helps you install and configure security technology in your production and logistics processes. From risk analysis to developing and implementing security strategies – we offer an extensive range of services.
FAQs – Industry 4.0
Creating even more flexible, faster, and consistent processes in engineering and automation are the primary goal.
The latest digitalization and engineering methods have been used to develop tools to increase certainty and facilitate the job of designing in accordance with complex requirements.
Risks are reduced along with design times, and quality is increased.
This means that digital engineering methods and tools are focused on high productivity right from the design process.
HEITEC uses these concepts for real-world troubleshooting.
The digital design phase generates processes and sequences in conjunction with technologies to design plants for the manufacture of specific products.
This design process makes increasing use of digital models.
HEITEC concentrates on the solution and develops cross-tool interfaces and technology objects for customers that take design simulation closer to reality.
These abstract design methods achieve a high efficiency rating.
methodology in engineering translates design results into projects.
Specifically, process owners with no detailed knowledge of automation technologies need a way to configure their own solutions to manufacture their products.
The course the project will take is established as the project is being implemented: in other words, costs are either generated or can be reduced and avoided.
Tested quality is achieved when the virtual model not only reveals the sequences and cycle periods in real time, but it also quality-checks the software used in the project and validates it to a certain extent.
The digital twin makes the project content clear.
Planning, design, and software errors are identified at an early stage, and the appropriate actions can be taken before a defective system is constructed.
HEITEC offers even more productivity growth through IT networking of operational and production processes on the shop floor.
Customer orders are divided into individual manufacturing orders using SAP and are transmitted to the machines in production via middleware.
Benefits:
- Manual copying errors are prevented
- Detailed planning of production resources on the shop floor can optimize production
- Online feedback on manufacturing status helps establish realistic delivery times
- Reliable planning thanks to real-time data
IT networking makes customized products in batch size one in a mass-production environment economically achievable
By rigorously collecting all relevant data from production (big data/monitoring), production from the last shift or the last few days can be modeled on the digital twin.
All production bottlenecks in the production facility are identified using the digital twin.
Problems that occur only sporadically can also be analyzed.
The information obtained is used to initiate and perform the appropriate measures, first on the virtual model (the digital twin) with no risk whatsoever, and then on the real production facility following successful acceptance.
Productivity is substantially increased, thanks to parallel analysis and optimization during ongoing production.
Do you have any other questions? We’ll be happy to answer them in person.