The transition to data-driven manufacturing comes with its own challenges, including navigating the crowded marketplace to find the right tool to best capture, analyse and utilise this data.
A crucial part of Mining 4.0 is using analytical tools to collect data and unlock meaningful insights to drive smarter, more efficient operations. Today’s mines are generating more data than ever before, making it crucial to harness this data and create meaningful insights for mining organisations.
The data analytic solution standard
OSIsoft’s ProcessBook application has been the data-based insight standard for process industries since its 1994 debut, allowing users to create dynamic, interactive graphics and trends featuring real-time PI System data.
In 2020, OSIsoft announced the retirement of ProcessBook, leaving the mining industry to tackle the complex landscape of industrial analytics tools in search of alternatives.
Keeping in mind key considerations
Confronted with the range of analytics products on the market, it can be difficult to know where to start on the journey to selecting an alternative solution.
To determine the best fit for their business, there are certain factors that organisations should consider. These include:
- Ease of integration: migration is a key consideration when selecting an alternative, and if an organisation has invested time and money into their data analytics tools then solutions that can painlessly merge with the PI Server are a more attractive option
- Diagnostic analytics capabilities: trends and trending capabilities are at the core of diagnostic analytics. Analytics tools are used for troubleshooting downtime occasions or product quality issues
- Operations management capabilities: these capabilities allow for, among others, reporting, quality management, production tracking and process monitoring
- Advanced analytics capabilities: this is often used in relation to leading-edge manufacturing concepts like machine learning and AI, and advanced analytics replacement tools will usually take on the form of either predictive analytics or prescription analytics
- Cost/pricing: associated costs will undoubtedly be an important factor to consider when choosing an alternative and is usually determined by the features and the scope of implementation of an alternative
The leading alternative
dataPARC’s PARCview prides itself on being a real-time data analysis and visualisation toolkit developed by end users, for end users.
Having co-existed with OSIsoft’s PI Server for a considerable time, PARCview’s integration with PI Server is incredibly simple, even going so far as to allow users to bulk import existing ProcessBook displays without losing functionality.
PARCview is widely considered the best time-series trending application available for analysing process data and is loaded with features that support root-case analysis and freeform data exploration. The solution’s Performance Data Engine also gives users the best of both worlds – super fast access to long-term datasets and extremely high-resolution short-term data.
In terms of operations management capabilities, dataPARC offers a complete set of tools, including a display design tool which allows users to create custom KPI dashboards and real-time process displays.
As well as all the standard reporting features being included, smart notifications can also be configured to trigger text or email alerts for downtime events or other process excursions.
PARCview also offers a predictive analytics interface for preventative maintenance and operational intelligence using data modeling and third-party AI calculators.
For organisations looking to get production data in front of decision makers across every level of operations, dataPARC provides an unlimited user license for PARCview.
To learn more about navigating the complex landscape of industrial analytics tools and how top miners are capturing, analysing, and using data to streamline operations and maximise efficiency, download the e-book.
Featured image: Vera Larina/shutterstock.com
