Smart Buffering Brings Production to New Levels

by: Dr. Mikko Lahti, Director, R&D, Maillefer Group

The productivity of optical cable manufacturing can increase with higher line speeds.
However, the higher speeds call for more precise process control. The manufacturing process
contains several parameters that the line operator controls during the production. The state of
the process is both controlled and estimated by process parameter adjustments and observations.

Sensor data is difficult for humans to analyze in detail, especially in real-time during production. Interpreting the sensor data is difficult due to complex interactions throughout the manufacturing process. Also, the wear and tear of equipment causes drift in absolute sensor values. The ideal process state window, originally defined by process sensor values, shifts over time.

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