Initiating Industrie 4.0 by Implementing Sensor Management – Improving Operational Availability

Abstract

To stay competitive in the future, industrialists must be prepared to adopt the imminent changes and new technologies associated with Industrie 4.0. These changes apply equally to the field of maintenance, which is also developing quickly. Sensors, along with analyses and competence, are one of the most critical factors for Industrie 4.0 as they are the connectors between the digital and physical world. Utilization of these sensors within maintenance is a relatively unexplored field. Thus, the aim of this paper is to present a novel concept for ways sensor management can be linked to maintenance and thereby improve operational availability. The paper also presents an overview of sensor management and trends within maintenance.