By 2018, the majority of CEOs of industrial companies around the world are turning to digital transformation to achieve Operational Excellence 4.0.
According to a PwC report, Industry 4.0: Building the Digital Enterprise, industrial companies are planning to invest 907 billion dollars per year in Industry 4.0 by 2020.
However, defending industry 4.0 requires a strong commitment from senior management, a clear strategy and a developed understanding of the principle of collaboration.
Many industrial companies are struggling to thrive in the Industry 4.0 revolution due to a lack of digital strategy or a lack of in-depth understanding of how these technologies will impact their industrial environment.
While many companies have adopted solutions that are rooted in industry 4.0, such as Big Data Analytics, mobile devices, IoT platforms, intelligent sensors, etc., they have not adapted to all these technologies quickly enough to always lead the change.
One area that has changed very little with the industry revolution 4.0 is the way operators carry out their interventions.
Today, industrial company operators still do their work without using any digital tools to collect data or access other information.
They do not have access to critical information in the field, such as equipment manuals, archives, data or intervention histories, etc. because this type of intervention is not available on paper, since it is too complicated to transport in all circumstances.
However, it is imperative that you provide your field teams with the latest digital tools to collect field data, stay connected with their teams and have access to information crucial for the successful completion of their interventions.
Only when your operators have adopted digital tools that allow them to be connected to their teams, processes and IT systems, will they be able to perform their work more securely, qualitatively and quickly.
We call them "connected operators".
In this article, we will look at what a Connected Operator is in practice, and how a Connected Operator Platform likeErmeo 's can increase productivity, quality and safety at work for industrial and facility management companies.
In this article, you will be able to discover :
1. Who are the Connected Operators?
2. What is a Connected Operator Platform?
3. Key benefits of the Connected Operator Platform
4. How to use the Ermeo Connected Operator Platform?
1. Who are the Connected Operators?
Connected operators are field operators who use technologies to help them carry out their interventions, and who are always connected to other operators or managers in real time.
Connected operators perform their daily tasks, such as response planning, field data collection, fault reporting, and data analysis, using technology to improve productivity and reduce errors on the job.
Rather than working on paper processes and procedures, they use the Connected Operator Platform to record and analyze data using mobile devices, IoT platforms, portable technologies or artificial intelligence.
A field operator who does not use technology faces operational challenges such as lack of access to information, slow data collection, manual data entry into various software, lack of connectivity, etc.
Connected operators collaborate with their teams and managers in real time, which also allows them to solve problems much faster than regular workers.
A "typical" connected operator can expect to increase his productivity by 20% by saving time on preparing his interventions, recording and updating data, analyzing it, and working with operators on a daily basis.
Thanks to the Connected Operator Platform, operators know exactly what to do and how to do it, at all times.
2. What is a Connected Operator Platform?
The Connected Operator Platform connects people and technologies through efficient work processes that increase team productivity by collecting and analyzing data, allowing teams to make faster decisions.
The Connected Operator Platform is a digital solution for technicians, operators, and other field agents to digitize their procedures, plan their interventions online, record data with greater speed and accuracy while improving the quality and safety of interventions.
It allows operators to perform their tasks more efficiently, using interactive and efficient procedures, while introducing time-saving features that lead to cost and time savings.
The Connected Operator Platform is used to create highly dynamic and interactive work instructions so that field operators know exactly when to do what and how.
This allows managers and other team members to have a better visibility on interventions and operations.
In industrial companies, some operations must be carried out by multiple operators according to their respective responsibilities, skills and geographical location.
The Connected Operator Platform ensures that the data entered is synchronized and updated, and that another operator can begin to carry out his part of the work instructions.
One of the challenges of using a technological device in the field is the lack of Internet connectivity.
The Ermeo Connected Operator Platform allows workers to perform an intervention in offline mode so that their work is not interrupted.
The Platform updates the data in all IT systems (CMMS, Ged, etc.) as soon as the device connects to the Internet.
3. Key benefits of the Connected Operator Platform
The Ermeo Connected Operator Platform converts paper procedures into highly dynamic and interactive workflows for:
- Increase the productivity of field operators
- Reduce work errors and increase accuracy
- Improving quality through standardized work
- Improving safety and avoiding accidents
- Improve the visibility of operations
- Improve the traceability of work and equipment
- Improve real-time collaboration between teams
4. Wondering how to use the Ermeo Connected Operator Platform?
1. Convert your paper procedures into interactive workflows using elements such as text, images and videos
Start by identifying the procedures and work instructions you would like to digitize using the Ermeo Studio.
Studio Ermeo is a simple solution for creating interactive procedures thanks to its drag and drop functionality. You do not need to know how to code or know other advanced technologies to create these procedures yourself.
Ermeo will guide you through this step to ensure the successful creation of interactive procedures.
Compared to entering data only on paper, Ermeo allows you to create these workflows in the most appropriate format, using elements such as text, images or videos.
For example, any damage to the equipment on which an intervention is performed can be recorded as an image rather than text, so that other team members can better visualize the problem.
Decide on the most efficient way for your operations to record the data, and create work instructions accordingly.
2. Interventions are planned by teams or triggered by connected systems
Once you have created interactive workflows, you can easily prepare interventions for your field operators.
Managers can plan interventions for their teams using the Platform or Mobile App.
Operators can access planned interventions directly on their mobile devices.
However, operators can also create new interventions by themselves and start performing their tasks immediately.
You can schedule recurring interventions to avoid recreating the same intervention multiple times.
Since the Ermeo Connected Operator Platform is connected to other systems such as CMMS or Ged, it is possible to search for existing intervention schedules on these systems, and associate them with the relevant procedures.
3. Teams are guided step by step to perform their interventions, collect data and collaborate with their teams in real time
Thanks to interactive procedures, operators are guided step by step through their work. They can access documents related to their interventions, such as work manuals, equipment specifications, data history records, etc. instantly.
The Connected Operator Platform makes these procedures accessible to field operators, without them having to carry only a simple smartphone or tablet.
This ensures adherence to procedures and avoids the disadvantages common to field operators by directly telling them what to do and how to perform their tasks.
If multiple operators need to collaborate on the same procedure in several steps, they can then view details on where the last operator stopped and where they should start.
4. Operators report anomalies and instant notifications to alert teams for immediate resolution
When you are in the field, some issues are constantly raised that need to be addressed directly. Or you may need the help of another field operator with different skills.
Today, operators must find the right person to help them, explaining the problem over the phone or live, which is time-consuming.
With the Connected Operator Platform, in these cases, operators can report these urgent topics by taking a picture directly from the Ermeo mobile application.
Instant notification is sent to team members and managers to inform them of these problems, with a view to obtaining appropriate assistance for rapid resolution, anywhere, anytime.
The ability to solve problems quickly, moreover, makes your field operations and interventions more productive.
5. The Ermeo Connected Operator Platform collects field data and updates other systems in real time (CMMS, Ged...)
Field operators collect the required data on the platform while performing their interventions. The Connected Operator Platform allows field operators to collect data even in offline mode, so that field connectivity does not interrupt your work.
The data is stored on the operator's mobile device, and as soon as the operator connects again to the Internet, the platform updates its database at the same time as its other IT systems.
The Ermeo platform can be integrated with your current IT architecture and other systems, such as CMMS, Ged, or BI tools, to update the collected data anywhere and instantly, when connected to the internet.
Thanks to proprietary technology, there is no longer any gap in the data between normally disconnected IT software.
Apart from preventing data gaps, this radically reduces the time spent by a field operator or other stakeholders manually entering the same data into different IT systems.
6. Reports are automatically generated and sent to relevant stakeholders
When an intervention is finished, operators can send intervention reports directly to their teams, or to the customers or stakeholders concerned, with a single click.
The Connected Operator Platform offers you the opportunity to choose PDF, Word or Excel documents for automatic report sending.
Beyond that, if your end customer prefers to have the report in a particular template other than your own, you can customize the report template to suit that customer.
This could not have been possible before, without spending a considerable amount of time manually creating these reports after each intervention.
7. Analyze collected data and user feedback to optimize procedures
Managers can create custom dashboards on the platform to analyze data and metrics important to them.
Each manager can customize his own dashboard to track and analyze the most important indicators for him.
Ermeo dashboards are created to help managers better understand their field operations and help them make accurate decisions faster.
Data analysis is the key to continuous improvement of your processes. With your dashboards, you can see what works, and what is not relevant.
Use team analysis and feedback to optimize procedures and move from corrective to preventive maintenance.
8. Implement recently optimized procedures instantly on the platform
In most companies, even the slightest change in operational processes and procedures can be time-consuming and costly. These changes are sometimes difficult to implement if they are not properly communicated with each member of the field team.
If your field operators are in different geographical areas, it can be difficult to implement these procedures immediately for everyone.
With Ermeo's Connected Operator PlatformWith a few clicks, any changes in procedures and processes can be easily implemented on the platform.
Once the procedures are optimized, they will be available for use by all field operators directly, regardless of where they are located.
