The production facility at Sachsenmilch in Leppersdorf is utilizing advanced technology to improve its maintenance operations. Through a pilot project with Siemens, the company has implemented Senseye Predictive Maintenance, an AI-driven solution designed to predict and prevent machine issues before they occur.
Senseye Predictive Maintenance employs artificial intelligence algorithms to identify potential problems with machinery, allowing for proactive maintenance and reducing downtime. This approach has proven beneficial in Sachsenmilch's diverse production environment during the trial phase.
A significant challenge was analyzing plant data such as temperature, vibration levels, and frequencies to detect anomalies early and make informed decisions. The implementation process required careful analysis of failure scenarios and integration of existing control system data. Additionally, new vibration sensors and the Siplus CMS 1200 measurement system were installed for enhanced monitoring.
Siemens provided technical support and project management expertise throughout the process. "What we like about this project is that Siemens has know-how on both the technological and the technical sides as well as in project management," said Roland Ziepel, Technical Manager at Sachsenmilch in Leppersdorf. After training and implementing the solution, Sachsenmilch's team continued independently to complete the pilot successfully.
The pilot project demonstrated significant cost savings by reducing unplanned downtime. "We can confirm that the pilot project with Senseye Predictive Maintenance has already paid off. Detecting a faulty pump at an early stage saved us a lot of expense – in the low six figures," Ziepel concluded.
Margherita Adragna, CEO of Customer Services at Siemens Digital Industries, expressed satisfaction with the project's success: "We’re pleased that with Senseye Predictive Maintenance, we were able to successfully support Sachsenmilch in integrating a preventive maintenance strategy in its existing processes."
Following this success, Sachsenmilch plans further integration of Senseye Predictive Maintenance with their SAP Plant Maintenance System to automate maintenance notifications from Siemens' solution into SAP Plant Maintenance for improved planning.