With Siemens' SIMATIC Real Time Locating Systems (RTLS), companies can continuously measure distances between workers, provide employees with real-time visual feedback on distance from others, and create a record of all movements and interactions. over time. Credit: Disclosure.
Using proven software and hardware, Siemens has developed a unique workplace distancing solution that helps simulate and manage employee exposure hazards in manufacturing environments while maintaining productivity across your facilities.
Siemens highlights that manufacturing companies face new challenges when trying to restart or maintain their operations during the COVID-19 pandemic. As they prepare for the "new normal," these organizations must consider an even greater level of employee security, including establishing production environments and workflows that meet physical distance requirements.
To make the strategy feasible, Siemens' SIMATIC Real Time Locating Systems (RTLS) system is used, through which companies can continuously measure the distances between workers, provide employees with real-time visual feedback on the distance in relation to others and create a record of all movements and interactions over time. In this way, Siemens SIMATIC RTLS facilitates safe distancing, in addition to providing several other benefits.
By combining proven hardware and software, Siemens has created a solution that allows companies to quickly and efficiently model how employees interact with each other, production line, and plant environments. This new solution also allows you to create an end-to-end digital twin to simulate worker safety, iterate and optimize workplace layouts, and validate safety and efficiency measures to prepare production lines for the future.
Combining Siemens' SIMATIC RTLS with a digital twin of the real manufacturing environment allows you to model and simulate how employees interact with equipment and each other, allowing you to iterate and optimize safety and productivity in the short term, in addition to validating redesigns across the board. operation before making costly physical changes.
"We help our customers create a safe working environment, which is extremely important as they seek ways to produce efficient and reliable in unprecedented circumstances," said Tony Hemmelgarn, President and CEO of Siemens Digital Industries Software. "The combination of real-time distance management and digital simulations helps companies maintain secure working environments and make informed decisions about long-term continuous optimization."
To implement this solution, Siemens SIMATIC RTLS transponders are incorporated into the badges, which are used as personal protective equipment by all employees. RTLS receivers are installed throughout the operation to continuously track and record employee movement. When two employees are at risk (for example, less than 6 feet apart), their badges display a warning, alerting them to the distance. Data collected over a specific period can be analyzed to identify places of greatest risk, ie where risks occur most frequently. This is possible with the digital twin, powered by Siemens' Tecnomatix® Process Simulate and Plant Simulation software. With the data collected, new layouts or manufacturing workflows can be simulated until one is selected to provide the desired results, which can then be implemented in the physical operation.
In addition, manufacturers can add traceability using Siemens' on-premises solutions or an application such as the Siemens Trusted Traceability Application on MindSphere®, Siemens' open cloud IoT operating system, which allows for quick and comprehensive contact analysis on the case of illness in the workplace. All movements and contacts with the affected employee can be viewed, allowing you to quickly notify those who came into contact with him or who were close to him, and arrange for cleaning of specific areas (and not the entire location) of the exposed physical environments.
"Siemens provides an efficient, fast-to-adopt solution that helps manufacturing companies control their operations and improve safety, productivity and cost outcomes today and in the post-Covid period," said Raj Batra, president, Siemens Digital Industries in the United States. "Our solution consists of proven technologies that can start delivering results for most manufacturing companies in one to two weeks."
For more information on how Siemens can help manufacturing companies in this new period, click on here.
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