With the rise of Industry 4.0, a new means of tracking all the updated and changing technologies is needed to make sure vital information is at supervisors’ and staff’s fingertips digitally, rather than stuck in someone’s head. Enter Documentation 4.0, a digitized documentation system that can be updated in real-time and made accessible in convenient ways.
How is Documentation 4.0 Built For a Modern Factory?
Documentation 4.0 starts with specs and other important information about the current machines and technologies being used. This is stored in appropriate software, access to which can be granted to relevant people. Where Documentation 4.0 really shines is when new technologies are added or updated. By continually updating the documentation with any changes or fulfilled maintenance requests, along with who performed those, and when, you can ensure that the right information is available at all times.
What Tasks Can Documentation 4.0 Assist In?
One obvious task Documentation 4.0 can assist in, is maintenance: either routine or otherwise. Making sure that routine maintenance has been kept up-to-date may be just as easy as checking whether it was already completed. When a machine or technology breaks down, there’s a list available of other maintenance or changes made to it, which helps in troubleshooting the issue.
Another way it can help is when you add or update technologies. Knowing the current capabilities of how everything works together can help pinpoint where plants may need downtime, if the new technology is compliant out-of-the-box with the old technology, and if a new configuration might be needed.
Documentation 4.0 Can Save Time, Increase Productivity, and Decrease Costs
Like most technologies associated with Industry 4.0, there are benefits beyond just making your factory components work better together and keeping your workforce informed. It also can save time by providing the documentation when it is needed. Documentation 4.0 increases productivity by reducing the need for hours of exhaustive searching and research into how and when a machine or technology has been maintained or what the last software patch was. It also decreases costs if used in conjunction with sensors and data that can auto-update information. This allows managers to analyze patterns in performance and anticipate maintenance needs before they result in major downtime.
By adopting digital tools and workflows, such as Documentation 4.0, companies can create smarter and more connected plants that are better equipped to meet the demands of Industry 4.0.
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