HMIs, or Human Machine Interfaces, are a crucial aspect of any productive plant. They are the easiest way to display data and up-to-date analysis of information from the plant’s machines and equipment. HMIs have a range of functions that help operators control the line more efficiently and more safely. On the floor, these tools can pull together charts and graphs, make suggestions, and sound alarms for a number of machines. Since the introduction of HMIs, they have made leaps and bounds, always progressing towards something more powerful, more straight forward, and more helpful.
Continuous Improvements
Improvements don’t seem to be slowing down, either. HMIs are already the most important aspect of operators’ decision making, but new upgrades are making them easier to understand and use.HMIs are an incredible tool, but too much information or confusing displays can limit their benefits. That’s why some new design aspects coming down the pipes are geared at simplifying systems and streamlining operations. In the world of the 21st century, most people understand swiping, pinching, and tapping to work our smart phones and tablets, so these kinds of intuitive actions are becoming a larger part of HMI functions. This makes multiple screens with various kinds of information easier to sift through. Operations are also being condensed by connecting multiple machines to one HMI. Keeping more things in one place makes for better communications through the system.
More Powerful HMIs
In order to control more, HMIs have to be more powerful. Newer HMIs have more robust hardware and can run Windows operating system. This opens up new doors. Smarter, stronger HMIs can send information to different kinds of machines on and off of the floor. They can gather information from different machines in order to better warn and communicate with the operators. Not only does this make operation easier, but it can improve efficiency in production as well.
One major addition that comes with the extra power is the use of instructional videos. When adjustments need to be made, operators can be guided through tune-ups with videos on the HMI. This can help with troubleshooting and alarm management, even over multiple machines. With a readily available handbook, operators can make better choices in a timelier manor.
HMIs Allow Informed Decisions
As HMIs gain the ability to pull in more data, operators will need to take more action. Thankfully, improvements to support the extra information are coming along as well. HMIs are vital in keeping production running, and the people using them have them as one of their largest assets. By using HMIs to display the data in a way that can be easily interpreted allows for informed descisions that will improve the overall efficiency of production. HMIs are already a main source of assistance when it comes to operator decision making, and they seem to be continuing in that direction.
