Smart Data Visualisation as a Stepping Stone for Industry 4.0 - a Case Study in Investment Casting Industry

With present day industries pressing for retrofitting of current machinery into Industry 4.0 ideas, a large effort is put into data production, storage and analysis. To be able to use such data, it is fundamental to create intelligent software for analysis and visualisation of a growing but frequently faulty amount of data, without the quality and quantity adequate for full blown data mining techniques. This article case studies a foundry company that uses the lost wax method to produce metal parts. As retrofitting is underway, modelling, simulation and smart data visualisation are proposed as methods to overcome data shortage in quantity and quality. The developed data visualisation system is demonstrated to be adapted to the requirements and needs of this company in order to approach full automation ideas. Such data visualisation system allow workers and supervisors to know in real time what is happening in the factory, or study the passage of manufacturing orders for a specific area. Data Analysts can also predict machinery problems, correct issues with slow changing deviations and gather additional knowledge on the implementation of the process itself.