ctrlX World: More than a multiplier for oee.ai

oee.ai is synonymous with the intelligent evaluation of data. What exactly do you do?

Optimizing overall equipment effectiveness (OEE) is a major issue for all manufacturing companies when it comes to optimizing equipment availability and performance and maximizing process or product quality. With oee.ai, companies can do this in the context of Industry 4.0. – through artificial intelligence and with minimal effort when collecting, analyzing and evaluating data.

Is your solution of interest outside the industry too?

Typical industries for us are consumer goods manufacturers (FMCG: Fast Moving Consumer Goods) or mechanical engineering companies which carry out machining work for example. However, the concept can be applied in a very wide range of areas. For instance, we are currently implementing oee.ai at a laundry.

How do you handle the huge amount of data?

oee.ai is based on a time series database which the algorithms are grouped around. Other companies solved the challenge of operating it for us. These include DigitalOcean, Microsoft or Google depending on what customers prefer.

AI is currently experiencing enormous growth. What is already possible?

Artificial intelligence is developing at great speed and has by no means reached its limits. A great deal is already possible. No one has to wait for increased performance. The hurdle which manufacturing companies for example face is elsewhere: The challenge lies in getting to the data in spite of the heterogeneity as regards manufacturers, control systems and system age. And that is where we come in.

You use gamification approaches. In what way?

We see great potential in the gamification of system productivity. We are making great progress here with a number of FMCG companies. For instance, we have an algorithm that we call the “Good News Feed”. We find optimum time sections in system operation in real time – for example the smallest number of brief downtimes in the current hour compared to the present week – or the shift with the best output this month. We then pass on this information to employees via andon boards with the message “You’re doing well. Keep it up”. We have received great feedback regarding these functions from all levels of the hierarchy.

Why do you offer your oee.ai app in the ctrlX World?

We believe in the app store for factories as demonstrated by Apple and Google for mobile phones. ctrlX World and the ctrlX Store are exactly that: A catalog with numerous solutions, installation with just a few clicks, a free test phase, simple billing. And that is just the start. For example, we can imagine a freemium model (freemium is a business model where the basic product is offered free of charge while the full product and the additions are available for a fee). So anyone who wants access to all reporting widgets will have to pay.

What are the benefits of the partnership?

Bosch Rexroth is a global brand. We will never have that reach. For us, the ctrlX World is primarily a multiplier. We have many useful discussions with the Game Changers at Bosch Rexroth and thus learn what customers really need. Bosch Rexroth knows exactly what is going on in the market and thus knows the challenges very well. These are good insights for our own further development.

Where do you see the benefits for users in the ctrlX World?

Innovations are happening more and more quickly and companies need to keep up. If I can access an innovative overall system comprising hardware, software and consultancy which is essential for industrial companies, that is great.

How would you rate the development of ctrlX AUTOMATION?

New apps, functions and solutions are announced every month. The number of solutions for customers is growing quickly, companies have a wider range of products to choose from. That is good for our joint customers – and raises our market profile too.

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