This is part 4 of a 4-part blog series where we look at how OEMs can transform their business at each stage of the machine lifecycle.
You have put your machine into operation and your customer is running. It’s a major milestone that’s been crossed, but assuring the machine’s value beyond day one is crucial to delivering long-term value and creating lasting customer relationships – and today’s trends are making this even more so. Manufacturers are increasingly looking to their OEM partners to champion the ongoing performance of their operations. This means OEMs need better visibility into their machines so that they can provide better, faster insights and react quickly to provide essential services.
Additionally, pressure to meet evolving customer demands poses a difficult dilemma – how can machine builders harness the information they need to enhance their machines after they have been handed over to the customer? Advanced technology is needed to enable the secure collection of operational performance data and use it to fuel improvements in design. This would enable OEMs to close the loop on innovation and leverage end-of-stage performance data to fuel improvements that are ready by the start of the next project.
Harness new revenue streams with smarter support from anywhere
Managing the support of all of your machines in the field can be a costly and time-consuming task. The issue can be compounded when you send machines great distances or across countries. But now smarter support can be just a few clicks away. The FactoryTalk® Remote Access™ solution helps you support your machines without having to travel to manage, configure and initiate secure connections to automation equipment. You can provide installation support, programming upgrades, break-fix applications, remote services and diagnostics – right from where you are. This enables you to eliminate the delays and cost management that’s associated with travel and instead respond instantly to reduce downtime and deliver higher‑margin services that strengthen customer relationships.
Increase efficiency with AI-powered predictive maintenance
OEE (Overall Equipment Effectiveness) is an important factor for the success of your customers. This is where Industrial AI can make a real difference. FactoryTalk® Analytics™ GuardianAI™ software is a machine learning supervisory application that uses existing plant assets, such as variable frequency drives, as sensors to monitor the health of pumps, fans, and blowers. It enables OEMs to predict failures, reduce unplanned downtime, and deliver smarter, proactive service through continuous condition‑based monitoring.
Using FactoryTalk® Analytics™ LogixAI® software you can embed machine learning directly at the control layer, allowing equipment to continuously adapt to changing conditions, detect anomalies in real time and sustain the highest performance with minimal manual oversight. It continuously monitors operations and enables the application of machine learning concepts to get ahead of product quality issues and help protect process integrity - all without having to develop, validate or sustain in-house algorithms.
FactoryTalk® Analytics™ VisionAI™ software builds on that foundation by using advanced visual inspection to automatically spot quality issues, component wear and process deviations, to reduce dependence on manual checks while speeding up root‑cause analysis. This configurable machine learning technology makes it possible to simplify inspection workflows and flag hard to categorize anomalies.
Together, these technologies empower OEMs to boost uptime, extend asset life and strengthen long‑term customer relationships through smarter, more proactive maintenance.
Extend machine value with flexibility for the long term
Unified control architectures eliminate complexity by consolidating robots, independent cart technologies and safety systems into a single platform, creating a more flexible and future-ready machine architecture. By running all motion and robotic elements through a common control environment, OEMs can simplify maintenance, standardize engineering, and improve long-term system support. This integration also enhances flexibility, allowing machines to adapt quickly to new products, layouts, or performance requirements through software changes rather than hardware redesign, extending machine lifecycle value while reducing complexity and cost.
Finish strong and close the loop on innovation
For OEMs to differentiate themselves and stay resilient in an evolving market, the final stage of the machine lifecycle is critical. A smarter improve and maintain process presents an opportunity for OEMs to unlock new revenue streams, create lasting customer relationships and continuously improve their designs to help them win future business. By leveraging advanced tools that enable remote support, predictive maintenance, and real‑time performance insights, OEMs can ensure that their machines deliver maximum value long after day one. These capabilities not only strengthen customer trust but also empower OEMs to innovate faster and stay ahead of shifting market demands.
Ready to discuss how a smarter approach to maintenance can strengthen your machines and your bottom line? Get in touch with a Rockwell Automation expert to talk more.
