Asset management is a crucial yet complicated part of business operations in practically any industry. When the business grows, expands, and handles remote tasks, it can be difficult to determine which asset management solution a company should use, and whether it should be hosted on-premise or in the Cloud.

Let’s review the two hosting options, why managing media assets in the Cloud may be beneficial, and why some companies prefer on-premise control of their asset management.

On-Premise Asset Management

On-premise asset management is the traditional method for managing the system. This type of asset management is self-hosted through the use of a company’s servers and is managed by the company’s internal IT team. Everything is handled in-house, which allows an organization to manage the system’s IT infrastructure.

Like any other system, this management type has its benefits and setbacks.

PROS

• On-premise hosting allows for significant customization, integrations, and security protocols.
• These systems may be ideal for companies that have an experienced IT team.
• These systems might be extremely beneficial for businesses with hosting capabilities.

CONS

• On-premise systems are expensive
• The company is responsible for all integrations and maintenance procedures.
• These systems take significant time to deploy.

Asset Management in the Cloud

Digital asset management in the Cloud is partially or completely managed by the vendor the company utilizes. Because these systems are hosted in the Cloud they reduce employee maintenance burdens and internal infrastructure costs.

PROS

• Cloud-hosted asset management solutions are typically more affordable than on-premise systems, as these systems don’t require the company to have hosting capabilities.
• They’re accessible remotely so employees can access the data they need from anywhere.
• Cloud system vendors often provide much of the security protocols for the company, and IT asset management in the Cloud takes the demand off the company’s IT department.

CONS

• Cloud-based system speed will depend on the user’s internet connection, so performance will suffer if files are accessed in a remote location with poor connectivity.
• Shared servers may decrease the speed of a company’s system performance depending on how many companies are using the server at a time.
• If using proprietary programs is a requirement, this could make migrating, editing, or exporting files complicated at first.

Each organization has different needs, so there isn’t a universal answer regarding which hosting type is best for asset management. Exploring the capabilities and restrictions of each asset management system is necessary to come to an informed decision about which method your company needs.

Once an organization has developed a comprehensive understanding of digital twin technology, the next question is often: “How can my team deliver a digital twin that works and can be sustained?”

Developing a successful digital twin involves far more than creating a digital replica of a physical structure. Producing a model that proves to be an asset to your organization will require sufficient planning and experimentation.

If your management wants a digital twin, be sure to include the following steps in your team’s collaboration efforts for a productive developmental process. These thorough, organized planning tips are essential when designing a digital twin your organization can use.

Outline the Purpose

At the start of your digital twin journey, it’s crucial to fully understand the purpose you want this technology to serve. Discuss with your team exactly what you’re planning to create a digital model of and how you anticipate it will be used. This will require a thorough review of work processes and decisions (aka use cases) that will benefit from the digital twin. This review should assess how these use cases are being addressed today and what efficiencies or new capabilities the twin will provide. This understanding will help you prioritize how the digital twin can most effectively be used and, therefore, how the most return can be gained on the investment made.

By carefully planning and listing the use cases that the digital twin will address, it becomes easier to outline the creation process and recruit the guidance of the necessary qualified parties.

Consider the following as your team initiates the implementation of a digital twin:

• What facilities and assets will the digital twin cover?
• What use cases will the digital twin address?
• Who is this twin for?
• What data will the digital twin require?
• How will this data be maintained?
• What skill level will the typical user have?
• Will the digital twin be accessed remotely or on-site?
• Should the software that supports the digital twin reside on-site or in the cloud?

Determine the Scope

To develop an effective digital twin, it’s necessary to determine the scope of the digital twin and efforts to implement and sustain it. Different digital twins serve different purposes, so taking a broad look at what you need the twin to accomplish can help prioritize the use cases.  Detailed functional and then technical requirements documents can then be produced to guide the development of data and configuration of software to address these requirements.

Data is Key

Digital twins rely on facilities and asset data to operate as they are, by definition, virtual representations of physical assets or systems. Depending on the scale and use of your desired digital twin, the task of capturing and organizing your data could be significant. Utilizing “Smart” assets makes this easier, but for legacy systems, enabling sensors to capture your desired data (air flow, water flow, motor vibration, and temperature, for example) is a must.

Once you’ve determined what you want your digital twin to accomplish, targeting systems to upgrade with data sensors is a relatively straightforward task. From there, you must build data crosswalks to input your new sensor data into your digital twin software. Building an enterprise-level digital twin is achievable but doing so takes a lot of work by both your IT and Facilities Management team.

Without good, real-time asset data, as well as accurate data depicting the facility itself, the promise of a digital twin will not be realized.

Address Challenges

Before and throughout the development process, team members must proactively address challenges and propose solutions that satisfactorily overcome concerns. For example, the collection and recording of physical details should be checked and confirmed to be accurate, and issues experienced during data collection need to be addressed by team specialists.

Satisfy Requirements

During initial planning, the implementation team should have developed functional requirements for the digital twin. At this point, each of those functional requirements needs to be re-examined to satisfy technical requirements.

The requirements differ somewhat from the intended functionality of the digital twin since they involve a closer look at the system’s included features rather than the outcome of the model’s development.

Examining and satisfying requirements should be approached with the following question in mind: “What features and components does this digital twin need to serve the intended purposes?”

Explore hardware components, data management tools, and software specifications required for the project to come together.  It’s equally essential to determine which programs the digital twin technology needs to integrate with, how system updates are intended to proceed, how collaboration concerns are fully remedied, and how any conflicts or errors are resolved.

Remedying challenges, overcoming obstacles, and meeting all requirements are crucial steps involved in developing and delivering a digital twin that works.

Test the Digital Twin

Finally, after you have produced a functional digital twin, perform adequate testing to scan for system bugs, errors, shortcomings, or failures missed during the design process. You will need to revisit or repeat many phases involved in digital twin development before the digital twin is ready to serve the functions of its design.

Testing, troubleshooting, and system repair will ensure that the digital twin development team has produced a model that meets needs and operates as intended.

Depending on the project’s complexity, some digital twins are relatively simple to design with the help of a small team. More involved projects, however, should employ the expertise of industry experts. You can trust Arora to streamline the process of developing advanced, intricate digital twin technologies.

Browse our website or reach out to Arora to schedule a discussion of how a digital twin can best be designed and implemented for your organization. We will spearhead every step of the design to ensure your organization’s needs are met as effectively as possible.

The implementation of Maximo’s Application Suite 8 has generated a great deal of excitement, but it has also left many people with lingering questions. For convenience, we have collected and answered some of the most frequently asked questions surrounding MAS 8, its new features, and what upgrading to the latest version will mean for you and your business.

Q: What new features are included in Maximo Application Suite 8?

A: We cover many of the new features of Maximo 8 in our webinar series, but some of the key elements of Maximo Suite 8.0 include:

• Easy integration capabilities, which makes accessing full asset lifecycles simple. Managers can examine any point in the asset lifecycle and expand into additional management areas.
• Deployment through Red Hat, Open Shift, and hybrid Cloud, which enables various options for utilizing the Maximo digital suite across an array of devices
• Scalable solutions that can improve asset management throughout an organization regardless of size or industry
• Improved data sharing across applications which streamlines the process of digital transformation and analysis
• Enhanced user experience
• A transition from on-premise to cloud-based storage
• Ease of access and operation to reduce the burden on administrative professionals
• Significantly improved security

In addition to the main feature enhancements of Maximo maintenance software, the add-on features available aim to enhance performance and simplify day-to-day operations for growing companies in many technological sectors.

Q: What industry-specific solutions are available with Maximo Suite 8?

A: Industry-specific solutions include:

• Maximo for Aviation
• Maximo for Transportation
• Maximo for Utilities
• Maximo for Oil and Gas
• Maximo for Civil Infrastructure
• Maximo for Nuclear Power

Q: How can I upgrade to Maximo 8 from my company’s current suite?

A: A Maximo upgrade is applicable if your company utilizes Maximo 7.6.1.2 or a higher version. If your company uses an older version, you must complete the upgrade in more than one step: first upgrading to 7.6.1.2 and then moving up to Maximo 8.

Q: Can Maximo Suite 8 be customized for specific industries?

A: Yes, Maximo Application Suite 8 can be customized to meet the functional requirements of businesses in a variety of industries. The features can be configured to monitor inventory levels, services, contracts, and asset procedures in the following sectors, just to name a few: Oil and Gas, Transportation, Energy, Utilities, Aviation, Nuclear Technology, and Manufacturing.

Q: What parameters does MAS 8 monitor?

A: The asset management capabilities of the IBM Maximo Application Suite include, but aren’t limited to, the following parameters: technician availability, asset locations, warranty information, leasing information, maintenance history, maintenance schedules, parts inventories, and contract management.

Q: What kind of savings can businesses expect when using Maximo Suite 8?

A: Utilizing Maximo’s upgraded maintenance software and the new asset management features can significantly increase ROI and time and money savings. According to IBM statistics, MAS 8 can reduce up to 20% of labor costs, up to 25% of time waste and equipment downtime, and up to 15% of inventory costs.

Q: Are there add-ons available with Maximo Suite 8?

A: Yes, there are several available add-on options that integrate with Maximo Suite 8, including:

• IBM Maximo Enterprise Adapter for SAP Applications
• IBM Maximo Enterprise Adapter for Oracle Applications
• IBM Maximo Linear Asset Manager
• IBM Maximo Asset Management for Managed Service Providers
• IBM Maximo Spatial Asset Management
• IBM Maximo Asset Management Scheduler
• IBM Maximo Asset Management Scheduler Plus
• IBM Maximo Asset Configuration Manager
• IBM Maximo Anywhere
• IBM Maximo Calibration
• IBM Maximo Health, Safety, and Environment Manager

Q: How does Maximo Suite 8 improve efficiency?

A: Maximo’s maintenance software provides businesses with impeccable organizational capabilities. By collecting, organizing, storing, and monitoring asset information, Maximo 8 allows you to schedule preventive maintenance, ensure staff availability, keep track of assets on-location, monitor warranty deadlines, adhere to regulations, and avoid unnecessary fees. The careful organization of each asset reduces labor hours, time waste, and asset losses.

Q: How can MAS 8 help with contracts and organization?

A: Maximo 8 can simplify monitoring and management of contractual information, service agreements, corporate standards, laws and regulations, inventory, warranties, parts, logistics, and vendor information. The system collects, organizes, and stores information and generates notifications when important deadlines are approaching or contractual information needs review.

Q: Where can I learn more about MAS 8 features?

A: To learn more about the Maximo 8 implementation, check out our webinar series designed to help you navigate the ins and outs of the MAS 8 upgrade.

Looking for more information? Visit our website to receive a personalized demo of a solution that fits your needs.

Have you heard about Digital Twin technology, but you’re not sure how it works or why it is relevant to your business?

As we continue to connect increasingly complex enterprise software and building systems, we require digital models to give us a glimpse into what is happening and can happen with physical assets. That’s where Digital Twin technology comes into play.

Let’s briefly cover what Digital Twins are and how Digital Twin software can benefit countless applications and processes.

What Is a Digital Twin?

A Digital Twin is an exact virtual replica of a physical object, asset system, facility, or enterprise. By using real-world data pulled from its physical counterpart, Digital Twins can simulate processes to predict how an asset or system is currently performing and how it will perform in the future.

For example, a Facility Manager might look at the Digital Twin of a specific building system, such as an HVAC system, to run simulations, research the system’s design, and plan ways to enhance the system’s performance. It’s safer and easier to look at the digital version of a product in many cases, as it allows professionals to take a very detailed look at specific components.

Types of Digital Twins

There are many different types of Digital Twins, which vary depending on the industry, object, process, or need. Developing several Digital Twin types for a single process, object, or service is not uncommon.

Some common Digital Twin types include:

• Component Twin: Used to create digital copies of small parts or components of larger systems. It’s the most basic digital twin software application.
• Asset Twin: Designed to allow professionals to observe interactions between components. This type is often used to gauge performance.
• Unit Twin: Used to examine how certain assets work together. Like asset twins, unit twins are used for performance analysis.
• Process Twin: Monitor the way that various systems work together. They’re used to perfect synchronization, production, and efficiency.

The Significance of Digital Twins

Digital Twin software offers several benefits for professionals who develop, design, and manufacture products and services. Creating detailed digital images enables more efficient research and development. Data collection and analysis features help predict complications before they arise, enhancing performance results. Digital planning also reduces unnecessary costs by perfecting objects and processes before physical production starts.

For Facility Managers, Digital Twins offer the ability to enable predictive and proactive maintenance plans for digitally connected building systems, extending the life cycle of these systems and maximizing system uptime. This advanced capability is one of the many innovative features a Digital Twin brings to an organization.

For example, by examining the digital version of a piece of machinery, engineers and manufacturers can run tests to determine which components need improvements. This way, they can bypass the steps that come with changing parts of the physical model and comparing the effectiveness of said changes.

Additionally, Digital Twin technology can be useful in monitoring existing products and services. In doing so, developers can simultaneously examine several approaches to achieve the highest possible efficiency. Methods that yield positive results can be introduced immediately or implemented into new versions. Implementing this monitoring and subsequent processes helps Facility Managers optimize their labor and automate as many maintenance tasks as possible.

Finally, Digital Twins can be beneficial in planning the next steps for equipment that has reached the end of its lifecycle. Examining the Digital Twin allows manufacturers to separate recyclable parts from parts that must undergo a different form of disposal.

Current Digital Twin Usage

While this type of technology may sound futuristic, Digital Twins are already widely used in several industries. Areas of utility include:

• Aviation: Digital Twin technology helps airports efficiently and effectively operate and maintain their assets to maximize return on investment.
• Healthcare: Digital Twins help determine patient care and interpret sensor-generated data.
• Energy: Through the use of Digital Twins, engines can be designed to handle predicted workloads as efficiently as possible.
• Structural Design: Digital Twin software can help architects and contractors design safe, efficient structures, such as industrial buildings.
• Community Planning: Designers and engineers can use Digital Twins to plan the design of buildings and their capacity requirements based on real-time data.
• Automotive: Digital Twins can assist in the development of high-performance, efficient vehicles.
• Factory and Manufacturing: Digital Twins are now a key component of designing and building products in a factory setting.

To conclude, Digital Twins provide engineers, designers, and manufacturers with a piece of equipment or series of processes that they can examine from the palm of their hands. Digital Twin technology allows tests to be conducted, specific components to be examined, and enhancements to be made before ever having to dispatch labor for the physical version of the product.

Airports, especially larger airports, require a massive amount of organization and collaboration to operate efficiently. Thousands of people pass through an airport on a given day, and to ensure that operations proceed smoothly, airports place a great deal of importance on various assets.

Each piece of equipment needs to be maintained and kept in working order to avoid safety hazards and scheduling delays. To meet this requirement, it’s also crucial to be aware of personnel task lists and current location.

To properly manage the elements of airport operations, monitoring assets is a must, which is where asset tracking systems come into play.

What is Asset Tracking?

In the aviation industry, asset tracking is a term used to describe the process of monitoring and collecting information on an array of airport equipment via an Airport Asset Management system.

This process is designed to organize and initiate standard airport operations regarding asset management, like scheduling maintenance work on a given asset, or determining an asset’s status along its lifecycle.

Airport assets that might be monitored under an Airport Asset Management system include but are not limited to:

• Baggage Handling Equipment
• Boarding bridges
• Airport vehicles
• Airfield lighting and signage
• Building Systems such as HVAC, Lighting and Mechanical systems

Monitoring these assets through an asset tracking tool provides management with accurate data, which can then be used to plan for repairs and maintenance work in the future.

Asset Tracking in Real-Time

Real-time asset tracking is, as the name suggests, a method of collecting information about an asset at an exact point in time. Tracking the current status and location of an asset can be completed with the use of several techniques. The technique an airport chooses depends on the asset in question and the compatibility of different tools.

For example, assets can be tracked in real-time using GPS technology, Bluetooth beacons, radio frequency identification, or sensors connected to an online network.

Features of Real-Time Asset Tracking

Real-time asset tracking monitors various aspects of maintaining an asset in the aviation industry. One system can collect and organize the following information:

• Physical asset details, such as location, scheduled maintenance, current status, maintenance worker assigned to the task, and ETA on maintenance completion
• Specific information about the asset, including, maintenance schedules (past and current), operating condition, warranty information, manufacturer documents, any billing required,
• Inventory management, such as available parts on-hand for maintenance procedures
• Collection and storage of data and analytical reports

How does real-time asset tracking benefit the industry?

Having a reliable asset tracking system reduces the need for manual processing in maintenance and management. With real-time notifications and automatic system updates, workers do not have to initiate manual entries for every change made. In addition, real-time asset tracking reduces the need to look for lost or missing items, eliminates guesswork when determining availability, and cuts down on unnecessary human labor. As such, the system saves airports money and improves efficiency.

In addition to cost-savings, implementing the use of a real-time Airport Asset Management system into aviation operations can lead to positive changes throughout facilities as a whole. For example:

• Airport Security: Airport security personnel can fill numerous roles throughout the facility, and with the use of a reliable asset tracking system, these individuals can operate more efficiently when an issue occurs. Through the use of real-time notifications, security personnel can address a problem immediately, creating a safer airport for visitors and other staff.
• Passenger Experience: Equipment malfunctions can lead to delays in schedules, which inconveniences passengers. However, the use of asset tracking systems can prevent malfunctions from occurring by ensuring that each piece of equipment is in working order. Preventing avoidable issues from occurring improves the customer experience by reducing delays and increasing safety throughout airport operations.
• Airport Operations: Asset tracking systems allow airport personnel to keep a watchful eye on employees and assets alike. This way, misplacement or theft of expensive assets are reduced and efficiency is improved thanks to the ability to pinpoint which assets and employees are available at a given time.
• Reports and Audits: Airport personnel can use data collected and organized by the asset monitoring system to plan maintenance, keep track of reports, and ensure that each piece of equipment complies with regulations.

Real-time asset monitoring provides invaluable support and organizational capabilities throughout aviation facilities. By keeping close track of equipment maintenance requirements and personnel schedules, airports can save money, increase efficiency, and improve safety across the board. Real-time tracking is crucial in the effective management of today’s airports.