Gear Technology Magazine
www.geartechnology.com/articles/26482

Hexagon Offers Software Solution to Optimize CMM Performance

December 23, 2019
Hexagon’s Manufacturing Intelligence division recently launched HxGN SFx | Asset Management, a cloud-ready software solution that helps manufacturers achieve operational excellence by offering easy access to real-time machine status and utilization reporting. 

The software unlocks the data typically siloed in individual coordinate measuring machines (CMM) to provide real-time insight into the performance, use and status of multiple CMMs across one or several sites. A web- and mobile-enabled dashboard provides real time visibility of the health, availability and performance status of CMMs, in single or multiple locations. Manufacturers can shift from managing assets as a cost center to optimizing equipment profitability and value creation. And the data aggregated by SFx Asset Management can be used to pre-emptively schedule maintenance and identify sources of downtime.

With HxGN SFx | Asset Management it is also possible to quickly identify which site has spare capacity and gain insight into how systems are used. And because SFx Asset Management is cloud-based, information can be accessed anywhere from a PC, smartphone or tablet. 

Asset performance management software plays a crucial role in optimizing Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE). As its name suggests, OEE is a measure of how effective machines are. It can be calculated either for a single coordinate measuring machine (CMM) or for a set of CMMs over various periods of time. An understanding of a CMM’s OEE can help reduce spending on maintenance while achieving better overall machine performance and efficiency.

SFx Asset Management moves manufacturers towards the smart factory by giving them the real-time data that makes them more flexible, effective, responsive and competitive. Smart manufacturing is based on the most accurate and actionable information, and the first step is to reach a deeper knowledge of your machinery’s operational fitness,” says Scott Mahrle, SFx Asset Management product manager.