Software helps users manage maintenance needs

By Karen Hanna

A partnership that joins machine data with maintenance alerts has resulted in a software-as-a-service (SaaS) package for equipment users looking for greater insight into their machines’ upkeep.

MachineMetrics, a maker of software that analyzes machine data, and Fiix, a maker of maintenance management software, announced in September they were combining forces. The package they’re offering — tentatively called MachineMetrics + Fiix Integrated Solution — will help manufacturers, such as small or medium-sized molders that might lack personnel and expertise, to more appropriately manage maintenance.

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The new MachineMetrics + Fiix Integrated Solution software-as-a-service package will help manufacturers, such as small or medium-sized molders that might lack personnel and expertise, to more appropriately manage maintenance. The service works with a wide range of equipment, including mold making machinery.

The problem is that in most plants today, maintenance is done essentially on a calendar schedule, which is highly ineffective and often leads to either significant unscheduled downtime and expensive machine maintenance issues, or spending significant resources on unnecessary maintenance, both of which cost the manufacturer time and money,” said Graham Immerman, VP of marketing for MachineMetrics.

MachineMetrics’ Edge Platform gathers data from existing alarm systems and internal sensors. Meanwhile Fiix’s maintenance management system uses data to track maintenance-related tasks and push work orders to machine users. Based on asset usage, condition or predictive algorithms, the data can automatically trigger maintenance activities. Additionally, users can get alerts and in-depth reports on machine capacity, performance and condition, and identify right away when their assets are operating in unexpected ways.

TheSaaS can monitor a wide variety of machines, includingpresses, blow molders, extruders, thermoformers, turning and milling machines, lasers, grinders, welders, paint lines and

The new MachineMetrics + Fiix Integrated Solution software-as-a-service package provides users with data about operating conditions and machine maintenance needs.

robots. With the package, users can leverage data to determine when to do maintenance, rather than following a rote schedule.

“Maintenance and operations teams should have the power to not only get information from every piece of equipment, task, person and part at their facilities, but the tools to connect this data, analyze it and use it to make meaningful improvements at their organization,” Fiix CEO James Novak said.

Immerman called this more proactive approach a “game-changer for manufacturers looking to increase their throughput and profitability.”

The companies’ customers already include plastics processors, he said.

“By driving maintenance with data, we're essentially democratizing maintenance activity so either less-skilled workers can identify when maintenance needs to be done and how to do it, or [manufacturers can] use the limited resources they have far more efficiently than ever before,” he said.

Karen Hanna, copy editor

[email protected]

Contact:

Fiix Inc., Toronto, 647-317-9055, www.fiixsoftware.com

MachineMetrics, Northampton, Mass., 844-822-0664, www.machinemetrics.com