Making the most of the Christmas shutdown

Buying presents, writing cards to long-lost relatives and stocking up on food and drink — these all need to be done before

you can enjoy the festive break. For manufacturers, this time of year is also a good opportunity to prepare for the year ahead,

by ensuring that their machines and inventories are ready for the challenges of 2024.

Obsolescence management in a manufacturing facility means maintaining systems by sourcing obsolete components in a timely

and cost-efficient way, and the festive period will provide breathing space for this process. During this time, manufacturers can

inspect parts, carry out the necessary upgrades, and if required, order replacements early so they can arrive in time for the new year.

All these steps can be carried out during planned downtime when operations cease, meaning manufacturers can save having to do

these during normal working hours.

Not all legacy machines need replacing and, for those that can be retained, manufacturers can upgrade them in line with emerging

technology by retrofitting more advanced technologies. Drives, sensors and PLCs are the bread and butter of any factory and manufacturers

can integrate older editions with smart capabilities to improve data collection, communication and interoperability.

Although factory floors will be closed over the festive period, many smart technologies can continue running throughout without

requiring human interaction. For example, smart sensors can measure temperature changes, pressure and vibrations, and then make

this data available across the whole factory network. These sensors can also tell manufacturers if a piece of machinery is likely to

break down, giving them time to order a replacement.

Manufacturers can simply program the sensors and monitors before shutting shop, leaving them to collect data on processes and

equipment and generate valuable insights. This will give plant managers a head start in the new year, since having a couple of

weeks’ worth of data can support strategic decisions on how to future-proof processes in the upcoming months.

As manufacturers look forward to a well-earned Christmas break, there are many ways they can make use of the festive period.

Implementing a thorough obsolescence management plan and carrying out vital upgrades, like retrofitting smart technology to

legacy machines, is a good starting point.

We still have a lot of PLC/DCS/TSI/ESD Module in stock, contact us quickly for prices.