INTELLIGENT DASHBOARDS FOR A MARINE CONTAINER OPERATOR

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Project Details

Industry: Glass/Window Manufacturering & Aluminum Extrusion
Platform: MSSQL, Ignition
Location: Vancouver, BC
Objective: Centralize production data into a real-time dashboard to provide
clear visibility into key performance metrics and operational performance.

The client operates four container terminals positioned on the East and West Coast of North America. All terminals have direct access to major freeways and national railways, ensuring fast and reliable connections to and from the terminals. The terminals are constantly upgrading and improving their technology, equipment, and processes to continue delivering on time, every time.

With loading and unloading operations that are incredibly complex and time-sensitive, the client required a centralized and intelligent approach to equipment maintenance planning, operational reporting, and internal and external communications.

THE CHALLENGE

The marine container operator was having challenges planning when equipment would need future maintenance, understanding what their current data and reporting meant, and how to best communicate insights internally and externally. Loading and unloading ships is incredibly complex and expensive, making proactive planning critical when issues arise or when equipment requires maintenance.

Addressing these challenges required a scalable, automated monitoring solution that could provide actionable data across multiple terminal sites.

Common Challenges:

• Equipment Maintenance Planning
• Real-Time Operational Monitoring
• Data and Reporting Clarity
• Internal and External Communication of Insights
• Asset Tracking Across Multiple Sites
• Operator Training and Equipment Movement
• Scalability Across Existing and Future Sites

THE SOLUTION

QCA Systems designed a multi-site automated asset maintenance monitoring tool, leveraging Ignition server-based technology and SQL Server to be easily implemented across existing client sites and scalable to future sites.

Standards, business rules, and equipment states were defined in conjunction with the client, setting a standard across all locations for uniformity and understanding. High-Performance HMI design was applied to the operator interface to ensure operators were drawn to equipment in need of attention. An event-based historian was applied to track the availability of each piece of equipment in a centralized location. QCA Systems then generated reports using MSSQL Reporting Services showing key performance indicators, equipment downtime, and reasons across sites.

Here's how QCA Systems supports customers in this area:

• Multi-Site Automated Asset Maintenance Monitoring
• High-Performance HMI Design
• Event-Based Historian Implementation
• Standards and Business Rules Definition
• Key Performance Indicator Reporting
• Equipment Downtime Tracking and Analysis
• Scalable Architecture Across Sites

KEY RESULTS

• Monitored equipment operations to improve operator training and equipment movement
• Improved operations uptime through actionable data
• Clients had higher satisfaction as goods moved faster
• Assets are tracked and maintenance is done at the right time, reducing breakdowns
• Employees understand company data more deeply, enabling greater collaboration
• Ships are being loaded and unloaded faster, increasing profitability
• Scalable and centralized capability to track assets and improve uptime achieved