Cycle Time, Throughput, Utilization

Learn how to get this information and more out of your discrete sensors.

Discrete Sensor Monitoring

When a discrete sensor is used in manufacturing, the basic function is a simple “yes” or “no” which triggers the next step in a process. However, there’s wealth of information available from that single device that can give you extensive insights into machine performance and reliability.

Enhance Asset Efficiency

For example, you can assess the throughput and productivity of a line by tracking how many times per minute the sensor is blocked. If you have multiple lines running the same equipment, you can compare these throughput measurements to understand how machines are performing in relation to each other. This in turn can help you determine where improvements and changes can be made to enhance operational efficiency. If the sensor’s beam is continuously blocked, it may be an indication of machine failure and maintenance personnel can be quickly dispatched to inspect the equipment and make repairs if necessary. 

Information from sensors can also be used to track machine performance and health.

The Banner Cloud Data Services dashboard shows equipment status at a glance. 

Track Usage Trends

When you look at this sensor data over a period of a day, a week, a month, or more you can see trends develop in machine utilization. Examining these trends can help you better understand the return you are getting on your equipment and predict future production levels.

Visualize Machine Performance

All this information comes from a single device by tapping into the sensor’s signal, converting it to a serial data stream, and analyzing it with an industrial controller like the DXMR90. Information that can be gleaned from photoelectric sensors includes, but is not limited to:

  • calculating line performance by comparing actual throughput to an ideal rate
  • tracking cycle time
  • monitoring a manufacturing line’s status and knowing if it’s running, slowed, or stopped

Once this data has been processed by the controller, it can be sent locally to an HMI for viewing. Even more useful, this data can be pushed to Banner’s Cloud Data Services for remote viewing, generating automatic dashboards, creating and sending alerts, and logging data.

S15C Converters harvesting signals from existing discrete devices and sending them to the DXMR90-X1, which then sends the data to Banner CDS for visualization.

Learn How to Unlock More Insights from Your Other Devices

Get More Value from Your Discrete Sensor by Talking with Our Experts

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