The possibilities offered by augmented reality and artificial intelligence dominate the current development trends of systems for enterprise asset management systems (EAM). Thanks to the latest technological achievements, it is now possible, for example, to improve the use of virtual technical inspectors and, even better, predict the probability of failure of given equipment.
What are EAM systems?
EAM systems (Enterprise Assets Management) are solutions used to manage the company’s assets. They include a set of software, systems, and services for enterprises to control and optimize technical and human resources across business units and even geographically different locations.
The pandemic has made tools of this type even more important for companies, as they allow them to efficiently and safely manage resources also in the event of a sudden reduction in mobility and availability of employees – explains Jarosław Łukasiewicz, CEO of Vetasi, who specializes in the implementation of advanced IT systems in companies.
The main advantages of using EAM systems:
- the ability to prevent hardware failures thanks to preventive maintenance,
- centralisation of knowledge concerning resources and their condition, which allows you to better plan for investments and asset utilisation
- intelligent monitoring of resources, allowing to better determine the actual performance of the data of enterprise units.
CEO of Vetasi, Jarosław Łukasiewicz, emphasizes that all these advantages gained additional significance during the pandemic:
Previously, when employees were more mobile and available, it was easier to monitor, for example, the condition of railway traction and rolling stock. But when these experts suddenly had to stay home, the trains did not stop. They must continue to run safely.
In normal business conditions, employees were available to monitor the rolling stock at the railways and provide in-person reports, with the advent of the pandemic, and stay at home orders issued this became an impossibility, despite the need for the trains to continue operating in a safe environment, this is were EAM plays a critical role. The internet of things (IoT) and data collection from various types of sensors came to the rescue. As a result, efficient and safe infrastructure management was possible remotely and with the participation of a much smaller number of employees using EAM solutions.
The Internet of Things and data collection from various types of sensors came to the rescue. here. As a result, thanks to EAM class solutions, efficient and safe infrastructure management is possible remotely and with the participation of a much smaller number of employees.
The development trends in this area indicate that the ability to remotely respond and operate will be increasingly expanded – explains the expert of Vetasi, which specializes in providing effective solutions in the field of EAM, IT service management, and real estate portfolio management.
Vetasi use tools such as IBM Maximo and IBM Control Desk. The company has, among others, the largest number of IBM Maximo implementations in Great Britain, Poland and Africa.
Remote failure recovery: or How the virtual inspector works
One of the development trends in the area of EAM systems is the use of augmented reality, combining the real environment with computer-generated content.
In such solutions, e.g. specialized cameras or goggles with the virtual reality (VR) function are often used.
Using this type of equipment, for example, it is possible to diagnose failures of various types of devices much better and more accurately at a distance.
The traditional work of a field technician, who had a telephone and possibly a camera or a camera at his disposal during service works, often resulted in the fact that, due to the inability to quickly determine the cause of the failure, it was cheaper and easier to replace a given part than to repair it.
Modern EAM tools can change that. At the same time, they are a response to the emerging – not only in connection with the pandemic – shortages of top-class specialists.
Due to the restrictions related to the coronavirus, the mobility and availability of experts employed in enterprises have significantly decreased.
Thanks to the development of EAM tools, their knowledge can be better used remotely. A less qualified employee can go to the place of failure and analyze the damage using VR goggles.
With the advanced development of EAM tools, key knowledge and skillsets can be better used remotely. For example, a less qualified team member can go to the place of failure and analyse the damage using VR goggles.
It automatically receives hints, e.g. regarding the device structure diagram, which helps diagnose. But, also, the entire operation can be viewed remotely by a more experienced engineer located in the operations centre. He will be able to suggest what to look for and what to do next. This is how remote technical inspections are carried out – explains Jarosław Łukasiewicz.
Augmented Reality solutions
The world leader in the use of modern IT tools is IBM, which has developed the IBM Augmented Remote Assist system for the visualization of hardware and related data. Using this solution, the field technician can take a 2D photo, which the system then renders to a 3D version.
This allows a remote product expert to look at the hardware and rotate it to manipulate the image to get more information. It can also annotate the image with instructions and specification details instantly. This enriched set is then displayed again on the device of the field worker.
Vetasi, as a strategic global partner of IBM, also specializes in this kind of modern solutions. Our engineers follow the latest trends to be able to provide our customers with world-class technologies – emphasizes Jarosław Łukasiewicz.
EAM Security: The system will allow you to predict the failure
By combining the capabilities of the Internet of Things (IoT) and artificial intelligence, EAM tools are becoming more effective at predicting failures.
An extensive system of advanced sensors allows you to track the wear and condition of various types of components, alerting you to the need for service at the right moment. What is especially important, data analysis takes place constantly, online, thanks to which potential problems can be detected very quickly.
To implement this type of solution, you first need to invest in the installation of a large number of sensors. But over time, the company saves, for example, by avoiding downtime related to breakdowns. It is particularly useful in huge energy and transport companies, for which each stoppage results in multi-million losses – emphasizes Jarosław Łukasiewicz.
In railway undertakings, for example, the condition of wheels and brakes is checked in this way. On the other hand, the systems used in Airbus collect, among others, sensor information from engines and online analysis of what is happening with the devices. On this basis, they provide for possible maintenance or repair inspections, which may determine human life – adds the CEO of Vetasi.
The future of EAM systems?
Augmented reality and remote servicing of equipment are the answer not only to the challenges related to the pandemic but also, for example, to problems related to the lack of top-class specialists. This is especially important for companies that, for example, have many branches, but operate a highly dispersed infrastructure.
Jarosław Łukasiewicz emphasizes that in Poland more and more enterprises are starting to be interested in modern EAM solutions, and their capabilities are eagerly used by start-ups.
But to be able to take full advantage of such a solution in every corner of the country, we need to have access to the Internet everywhere. Without good connectivity, the development of these systems will be much more difficult.
In order to take full advantage of this solution, throughout the country, we need to have access to the internet. Without connectivity, the development of these systems will be difficult.
Therefore, the accelerator of the expansion of this technology in our country will certainly be the development of the 5G network. The coming years will certainly bring a lot of interesting news here – adds Jarosław Łukasiewicz.
Accelerating the expansion of this technology in Poland will require the roll-out of a 5G network. During the coming years we will certainly see some interesting developments in this arena – adds Jarosław Łukasiewicz.
Do you want to know how modern EAM systems can help your company? Please contact us: https://www.vetasi.com/pl
