Zünd Connect technology compiles production data from integrated Zünd cutting systems into meaningful key performance indicators – such as cutter capacity, availability, and overall equipment effectiveness. Zünd Connect also creates transparency and identifies areas in the digital cutting workflow with potential for optimization. The OEM added that there are many ways to optimize digital cutting to ensure maximum productivity, which is the reason why Zünd now offers the new monitoring tool that helps users recognize any potential and increase productivity. Using Zünd Connect, printers can see at a glance when (and more importantly why) machine interruptions occur, how much time is spent in set-up, and what the availability of each machine is.
Zünd added that the most successful companies are the ones that produce the most saleable products per hour. High machine availability and productivity are essential for profitable cutting and finishing. As simple as this may sound, it’s no small thing in the day-to-day production environment. Where do relevant key performance indicators come from? Is data available that enables monitoring? And last but not least, how is the data compiled so that it can be interpreted accurately and reliably? This is where Zünd Connect comes in.”
The web-based monitoring tool records productivity levels over a definable period using Zünd Cut Center – ZCC (Version 3.4 or later) as data source. The comprehensive overview reveals connections that are often overlooked, said the OEM. Zünd Connect supplies key performance indicators for assessing how efficiently cutting systems are working. To be able to improve cutter efficiency, potential areas of improvement must be uncovered and recognized. The potential lies primarily in the technology, but also in the way it’s being used. Zünd Connect consists of multiple dashboards with specific options for evaluating data:
Overview. This dashboard provides past production data and indicates, for example, fluctuations in machine utilization. Users can select various views and switch between indices for overall equipment effectiveness (OEE), availability and capacity. In addition, a filter function can be used to compare performance across different shifts.
Job list. This shows a list of processed jobs, what they entailed, the time it took to produce them, and the cutting distance traveled per job. Diagrams show the time spent by each individual material/substrate, processing method, tool and module. In reference to materials, for example, bar graphs show the processing time for each material used during a specified time frame.
Loss detection. This view visualizes losses in terms of time. It shows, for example, when process interruptions tend to occur most often. Loss detection enables the user to evaluate factors such as the specific time frames, materials or tools most likely to be associated with interruptions.
Interruption statistics. This lists the reasons for such interruptions. Users can filter for time of day, material, method, tool or module. The statistical representation shows users how many hours the cutters were unable to produce during a specified time period because of machine interruptions.
Zünd Connect is available in a Monitor or an Analyzer version. As the names imply, Monitor consists of a graphical display of overall equipment effectiveness and is available to all ZCC users free of charge. Analyzer, on the other hand, makes it possible to perform subsequent analyses and pinpoint productivity losses. Analyzer also provides the necessary tools for users to evaluate production processes and recommend improvements.