Digital Transformation Journey: Digital Plants of the Future

In the fast-paced world of digital transformation, clinging to outdated data stacks can act as an anchor, hindering progress. Companies often fall victim to tactical solutions that address immediate needs but lack a strategic vision for the future.

The Solution: This leading manufacturer recognized the need for a long-term approach and implemented a platform architecture designed for:

• Adaptable to Any Need: A platform that can evolve alongside changing business needs and functions.

• Scalable Digital Solutions: Ability to create, refine, and deploy solutions across multiple locations.

• Universal Data Access: Seamless access to global data with consistent definitions and classifications.

• Centralized Hub: A single source of truth for all data and expertise, creating a "Digital Plant of the Future."

The Implementation: The company leveraged Digital Factory to build a comprehensive data platform. This platform consolidated data from various sources, including:

• Equipment hierarchy

• Reliability and quality data

• Events and time series

• Work orders

• 3D modeling and laser scans

• ERP/SAP systems

• Unstructured documents

The Benefits:

• Unified Experience: Role-based access facilitates integrated analytics, actionable insights, and optimized workflows.

• Democratized Data:  Real-time asset data readily available to plant personnel, empowering informed decision-making.

Initial Use Cases at the Manufacturing Facility:

• Field Worker Empowerment: Providing field workers with the tools and data they need for efficient streamlined operational flow

• Drag-and-Drop Data Exploration: Easy access and visualization of industrial data.

• Industrial Digital Replica: A virtual model with connected data and predictive analytics.

• Automated Digital Twin Management: Autonomous robots for inspection and asset tracking, creating and managing a continuously updated digital twin of the physical plant.

The Future: The company envisions the integrated platform as a standardized library for future use cases across its global operations. These use cases can range from automation to real-time process optimization and connected worker solutions.

Empowering People Through Transformation:  A key aspect of the success story is the human element. The goal is to equip employees with the tools and data needed to do their jobs better.

Early Wins:

• Improved communication and teamwork

• Deeper insights and better tracking

• Faster data retrieval and analysis

• Increased adherence to procedures

The Road Ahead: The company remains dedicated to ongoing progress, focusing on:

• Automated inspection & intelligent data platform

• Implementing High-Value Applications

• Global Expansion of Successful Solutions

• Standardization of Effective Solutions Across All Facilities

This story demonstrates how overcoming the challenge of legacy data stacks can pave the way for a successful digital transformation journey. By prioritizing a strategic approach and empowering people with data, companies can unlock significant improvements in efficiency, innovation, and overall business performance.