Globalization is centered around innovatively shortening distances without physically reducing them. This includes important business decisions such as offshoring (relocating manufacturing to other countries for strategic advantages). With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, corporate culture has shifted even further towards remote work. Due to these factors, the remote working world also needs remote monitoring capabilities. Industry 4.0 practices enable remote monitoring and management for manufacturers to operate through computer vision services and cloud computing.
Cloud Computing
Manufacturers can combine two Industry 4.0 components to make remote industrial monitoring possible. Cloud computing is the primary catalyst in this process. Cloud servers enable the flow of large amounts of data collected by computer vision services and make it accessible to remote workers. Operations managers are not present on site but are notified in real-time as live data is transmitted to the cloud.
Over the years, the extensive IT architecture and perfection of cloud communication platform have enabled AI-powered processing.
AI algorithms on powerful cloud servers process the data gathered through computer vision services and provide insights on the specified metrics. If security is a concern due to third-party cloud hosting, data processing can also be done in-house and relayed via the cloud.
Remote Site Safety Implementation
Loss of productivity from injuries and illnesses costs companies $60 billion annually (OSHA). To address the various site safety concerns manufacturers face, computer vision-based industrial monitoring systems supervise and assist in implementing safety protocols.
Computer vision-enabled equipment observes employees’ location at the work site and notifies managers in case of unauthorized entry. Managers can also ensure that all employees are in proper gear through safety gear detection instead of doing repeated manual checks. The equipment sends automatic alerts when workplace accidents, such as hazardous spillages, occur. Prompt detection and communication enable an efficient remote response and help minimize damage.
Defect Detection
Quality control is being redefined through Industry 4.0 practices. The quality check process is no longer about physically sampling and testing each product. Computer vision-based ‘visual inspection’ detects errors with at least 94% accuracy at high speeds without interrupting production lines. Moreover, the data is collected and uploaded to the cloud in real time. So, operation heads can observe the production process continuously and ensure higher quality standards for remote monitoring and management.
The immersion of computer vision in quality control significantly reduces human involvement and hence greatly reduces human error caused by inexperience or negligence.
Through the deployment of computer vision services, the quality control process can be effectively managed remotely without compromising on standards.
Employee Efficiency
Enhancing employee efficiency is paramount in upgrading employees to industry 4.0 standards. Computer vision equips employers with innovative capabilities to achieve this goal.
Computer vision-enabled CCTV cameras installed at the workplace automatically detect whether employees are present at their workstations. If an employee is absent on the post for longer than usual, the system sends alerts and maintains employee attendance records online. This enables easy remote employee management.
Similarly, computer vision-based software offers screen supervision. Through this capability, employers can remotely gain insights and guide the speed and quality of employees’ work.
Through computer-vision-based monitoring, managers can access quick, unbiased, and quality information related to employee performance. The performance summaries generated by the monitoring system enable employers to easily identify problem areas. They can then communicate effective feedback to boost employee productivity.
Data-Driven Decision Making
While 91% of companies acknowledge that data-driven decision-making is essential for their growth, only 57% base their business decisions on their data (Bi-survey); this lag in maneuvering insights to drive intelligent decision-making accrues costs and decreases performance. A computer vision-based remote monitoring and management system enables managers to gather quality data on employee performance and safety to make informed decisions in a remote setting.
Managers can analyze employee attendance records to gain insights about burnout and absenteeism. This can help them make crucial decisions to increase employee attendance and enhance performance.
For remote quality control, Computer vision can efficiently detect recurring defects on the assembly line. It can also enable employees to identify problem areas through gathered data and make intelligent decisions to avoid production delays.
Managers can ensure employee safety by using computer vision to generate insights on the frequency and nature of accidents. They can then take precautionary measures to avoid these accidents in the future.
A Convenient Dashboard for Centralized Management
While computer vision has powerful capabilities for a smooth remote monitoring experience, a dashboard helps streamline operations through quick and easy access to all end users. Users can also customize dashboards to incorporate manufacturers’ specified KPIs and display relevant information.
The AI-powered dashboard summarizes significant information and offers intelligent insights. It helps managers make growth-oriented decisions quickly.
Conclusion
As manufacturers adapt to globalization, remote working and management on the move are becoming the norm. From defect detection to site safety implementation, AI-powered remote monitoring ensures smooth connectivity and high productivity.
Xavor Corporation excels in providing remote industrial monitoring services based on intelligent computer vision algorithms. These algorithms enable manufacturers to streamline internal processes, monitor potential hazards, and build mechanisms for constant improvement. Xavor’s specialty is providing All-In-One Industrial Monitoring Automation services that empower organizations to use computer vision in their organizations for unparalleled progress.
Get in touch today and level up your industrial operations with artificial intelligence. Contact us at [email protected]Â to find out how.