If you're a factory operator, you want to know what's happening now, not hours ago. Gebo Cermex' EIT (Efficiency Improvement Tool) gives operators real-time access to key plant data to optimise packaging line efficiency and to increase productivity.
So when Gebo Cermex added more grunt to its EIT, one of the primary upgrades was the EIT AQ-Clock. This lets users know about any available accumulation space between a specific machine and a malfunctioning machine on the line. It takes the form of a simple countdown highlighted on top of the operators’ dashboard that tells the operator exactly how long he has to restart his machine before the disruption has an impact on the whole line. The module, which is part of a new user interface featuring responsive web design, allows operators to respond more efficiently to adverse changes in their packaging line.
A second new bonus feature ECO EIT, which facilitates more sustainable manufacturing. This module monitors and measures energy and utilities consumption at equipment and line level. It gives energy cost per produced unit and correlates various consumptions including power, water, steam or compressed air with line events and production phases.
The EIT intelligence system now also monitors line events and status in greater detail with its wide range of modules that address performance, quality, losses, traceability, energy consumption and video recording, plus additional maintenance and alert-trigger functions.
EIT can be implemented on any line irrespective of its line integrator or original equipment manufacturer and was developed to optimise performance and increase reactivity in the beverage, food, home & personal care and pharmaceutical industries, at the same time reducing waste and energy costs.
It was first launched in 1996, and has been continuously developed ever since. It is now installed in more than 60 countries.
The system provides accurate and up-to-date key performance indicators such as overall equipment effectiveness. It also offers a complete set of screens, reports and dashboards. The EIT Reader module, for example, monitors and analyses each machine’s performance.
The added value of EIT lies in its built-in intelligence with tools such as its Root Cause Analysis (RCA) based on the line design principle. It pinpoints any device that has negative impact on the production, up to fault level. By using the EIT Line Audit screen, everyone actively involved in production can effectively discover their quick wins and set their priorities on the machines.
“Real-time monitoring of critical events is crucial. EIT detects primary stoppage reasons and offers root cause analysis based on each line’s individual design. This allows operators to take quick and targeted action – and make sure production is up and running again in no time,” noted Pierre-Yves Schaal, EIT deputy manager Europe, at this year’s BrauBeviale in Nuremberg, Germany.
EIT gives everyone involved in manufacturing, from plant floor to general management, an extensive picture of what is actually happening on the entire plant. The engineering experts will discover the real sources for efficiency loss while the maintenance department can use EIT data to carry out preventive action and follow up vendors’ guarantees. The system supports plant management by quickly assessing shifts’ performance and the plant’s output. And its highly accurate data can be reviewed by executives for benchmarking, optimising budgets, capital expenses and vendor selection for line and production optimisation.
