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ISO 138491-1:2016 does not include detailed quantifiable aspects such as error prevention in development and in software . However , further development and adaptation of the standards is necessary in order to take the new requirements of Industry 4.0 into consideration . In all cases , strong knowledge transfer is necessary around the topics of machine safety and Industry 4.0 . The Schmersal Group has considered this development with the foundation of its services division : “ tec . nicum ” offers machine constructors andoperators not only training and manufacturer-neutral advice , but also programming of the safety software .
With respect to machine safety and Industry 4.0 , increased knowledge transfer is required , and this is where tec . nicum , the Schmersal service division , comes in .
The Schmersal Group also considers OPC UA will be the future standard for M2M communication protocols , as it not only transports machine data but also allows a semantic description of the data . Although the exchange of non-safety-related data has largely been successfully standardised in line with the OPC-UA model , there is still a need for standardisation for the transfer of safety-related data via the OPC UA protocol . Schmersal is in favour of a joint approach by all manufacturers in the machine safety sector .
The benefit of primarily software based safety solutions are clear : in the future , all safety-related data can be transferred to a cloud and collected there , for example , technical data from sensors , reaction times , safety-critical
MICROFLAME SOLDERING
Video clips and examples at www . spirig . tvFree application attempts failure rates , etc . This allows a higherlevel computer to analyse the current risk based on this data and determine the measures to be taken to reduce this risk . This will allow future safety solutions to be simply adapted to flexible , dynamic production units and machines .
Adapting the standards to Industry 4.0
But all this is still in the future . There are some hurdles to be overcome first . For example , increases in softwarebased safety solutions will lead to another group of personnel , the programmers , having to get to grips with the subject of safety . Many design engineers have already been trained in the current hardware solutions in the safety technology sector . This has led to a reduction in error frequency . Machine manufacturers and users implementing safety-driven software solutions also need to familiarise their IT experts in the safety requirements . Clear standards and regulations are helpful in this respect . The amended DIN EN
Knowledge transfer and use cases
In order to support machine manufacturers and users on the introduction of digital future technologies with automation and safety-driven solution strategies and provide expert advice , Schmersal has set itself the objective of permanently expanding its own expertise . It is especially important for experts in machine safety to be at the cutting edge of technology . In order to achieve the best possible safety solution from an economic perspective , machine safety specialists should be involved as early as the design phase of machine and plant construction . As a member of the ZVEI , the VDMA and the initiatives “ Mechanical Engineering Future Alliance ” and LNI4.0 Labs Network Industry 4.0 , the Schmersal Group can benefit from information exchange in these interdisciplinary expert and working groups made up of representatives from mechanical engineering , applied research and the supplier industries . The companies in these networks also work together on specific use cases . www . schmersal . in
34 | August-September 2018 | Global MDA Journal