Automation in the Process Technology

It has become increasingly evident that anything in the industrial environment that can be engineered can also be automated. This automation trend applies both to modern systems engineering and to traditional mechanical engineering.

Sensor technology has become the eyes, nose and ears of plant and process management, allowing production to be controlled automatically to an ever-greater extent. In this regard, establishing a connection between the control documentation and top process visualization is a major productivity enhancer for all the engineering disciplines involved in a project.

Reliability and productivity are important keywords when it comes to high-quality documentation in process technology. Creating an interdisciplinary workflow during the engineering phase of a project requires common control documentation with piping & instrumentation diagram (P&ID), plant overview, measurement & controls documentation, as well as fluid and electrical circuit diagrams. This is all provided in EPLAN PPE, the ideal tool for successful collaboration in the planning and implementation of electrical, measuring and control system projects. EPLAN PPE offers complete data continuity, from the creation of the P&ID to the documentation of the automation technology. This ensures plant documentation of the highest quality and the ability to share it among engineering disciplines and between different, often far-flung locations. The people at corporate headquarters can efficiently share documentation with the people at the project location instead of waiting for hard copy to arrive. Teamwork creates synergies and accelerates the planning process. Downstream engineering phases such as manufacturing, assembly, commissioning and, in particular, operation and service & maintenance benefit from comprehensive documentation.

In addition, the modern graphical user interface concept in EPLAN PPE allows technicians to inspect the facility or the automation documents that directly relate to the project at the site.

Fault identification made easy

A further productivity boost is achieved if the plant documentation is directly interfaced with visualization. With one click, the plant operators can navigate directly from the message list of the visualization to the documentation. The component causing a fault is highlighted there. Without losing valuable time, the technician quickly locates the cause and has all the information required to correct the fault at his or her fingertips.

More automation

With the increasing automation of processes and plant environment, manual interventions in operations and production processes should be minimized since each represents an opportunity to introduce errors into the system. At the same time, new diagnostic technologies in the area of traditional power-plant and equipment engineering narrow the possibility for error when it comes to recognizing the need to replace outdated components. This has obvious reliability and productivity advantages, but also requires that machinery and plants are documented continuously so that technicians can quickly isolate issues that might force a shutdown of the operation for equipment servicing or preventative maintenance.

Conclusion:

A high level of automation in mechanical and plant engineering applications, seamless engineering tools and the integration of the plant documentation into the operations process form the basis for an optimal assembly line operation and for efficient production processes today and in the future.

EPLAN Software & Service

EPLAN Software & Service is a software provider for global engineering solutions. All advanced development work centers around efficient workflows and process support. Customers benefit from effective support through a broad range of services, including training, consulting and customer solutions. With some 18,000 customers and 60,000 installations worldwide, this German-based company has been demonstrating the success of its consistent practical orientation and international presence for more than 20 years. As a Rittal subsidiary and part of the Friedhelm Loh Group, the name EPLAN Software & Service has become synonymous with durability and investment security.