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Supervisory HMI Systems - Opening a window into your process!

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The Human Machine Interface

HMI development typically enjoys a secondary position in the project development cycle. Screen development usually is allocated a day or two per screen and then the basic structure of the design is determined by a controls engineer/programmer.

"Typically, very little intelligent design goes into the actual Human -> Machine interface segment."

Considering that the primary point of contact for your operators to control your machine will be through the HMI, I believe that this interface should be designed as a critical part of the process.  The HMI will be the first point of contact for maintenance personnel attempting to repair a problem; will it aid them in fixing the problem quickly by giving them part numbers, inventory counts or stockroom bin locations for replacements?  The HMI will serve as the principal focus for process engineers to optimize and continually improve your process, will it be designed with integrated SPC functions designed into your existing quality control system?

Without altering your existing control system, I can overlay the latest data acquisition technology on top of it, bringing you a new insight into your process.   In the system shown above, an existing Davy-McKee analog computer was adapted, along with the existing Reliance DCS system to provide advanced SPC and inventory tracking to an existing process.

All of this without any downtime!  The overlaying of the supervisory controls shown here can be done during normal maintenance cycles. 

 Mill Supervisory System.

The Operator Interface shown to the right not only replaced an expensive dedicated paper chart recording system, but it also is able to provide scheduling, real-time SPC decision making,  dynamic coil tension scheduling (minimize or eliminate coils collapsing) and much more.

The Supervisory. Control and Data Acquisition systems shown here may be designed with any of several popular software packages.  I have built various systems for a spectrum of customers including Underground nuclear weapons test applications,  Aluminum and Steel rolling mills,  Major mining operations, Lumber processing plants, and more.

"Realize the benefit of modern technology without bearing the expense of completely modernizing your process ."

Why replace an existing control system if it's working well? An HMI can be part of a supervisory system that is 'overlaid' on top of an existing control system, revealing details of the existing process never before available. Generate trends based upon calculated values and complex process interrelationships. Visualize complex func tions in real-time and perform capability studies to determine if your process is in control, something that must be done before ever considering process capability.

Using the latest relational database tools such as Oracle or Microsoft SQL Server, I can incorporate your existing knowledge bases onto the shop floor systems. HMI's can interact with any data base to allow for real-time maintenance scheduling or reporting, why perform unneeded maintenance scheduling by time alone? With our HMI's, you can schedule maintenance based upon actual cycle counts or motor bearing load/hours, operating temperature, or other criteria. Other uses include incorporating planning and scheduling databases, materials and product inventory databases, recieving and shipping databases, the applications are too numerous to cover completely here. In short, if you can think of a piece of information you need or would like to know, I can provide you with a cost-effective solution to bring it to you, real-time and less expensive than you think.

           Interested?  Contact Us.