Digital Indicators for Industrial Systems

Digital indicators work in conjunction with sensors and transmitters and are frequently used in industrial and mechanical processes. The indicator device is just one component of an industrial process control system and can be a simple display for one type of data or a complex unit which displays many different streams of data on one or more interfaces.

With the advent of electronics and LCD's digital indicators replace dial indicators (which are also known as dial gauges or probe indicators). Dial indicators display measurement results in a magnified way by means of a clock face of analog display. In the past dial readings required a lot attentive involvement by onsite technicians who would need to be skilled in logging readings made in person. The potential for human error was greater. Digital interfaces now allow for both more accuracy and faster response times in control instrumentation. It goes without mentioning that Digital indicators are also generally more lightweight and compact.

Modern industrial control systems have the advantage of being able to store and transmit the data electronically to a computer. Data such as temperature, pressure, humidity and flow rates are recorded and interpreted by the control system which means that there is less likelihood of the operator introducing recording errors. This is known as statistical process control (SPC) and digital indicators are an integral part of the process.

Statistical Process Control

Statistical Process Control (SPC) allows one to manage process control monitoring with statistical methodology and is aimed at reaching full operational potential as well as producing a consistent final result.  SPC has been successfully applied in many manufacturing plant to help it operate at full capacity whilst producing a minimal amount of waste.

First you will need to analyse potential "sources of variation" which a) affect the final product quality b) can be quantified numerically and c) can be adjusted/controlled by the manufacturer.  Statistical Process Control is different inspection and other quality methods because it anticipates production faults rather than trying to correct them retrospectively.
T he emphasis is on early detection and prevention and this very emphasis on statistical quality control means good business for any company which wishes to avoid distributing defective end-products.

SPC not only saves time that would potentially be wasted by reworking faulty products but also  streamlines process cycles  by using data to identify bottlenecks and other time delays/

A typical control station will include several indicators and in some cases the flat screen can represent digital values as bar charts and similar trend displays. Switching the display screens allows the system to provide a broad range information on one flat screen. The operator technician simply selects the information view that they need at the time.

These changes in operating devices and digital indicators have championed the decrease in physical unit sizes as well as the miniaturization of control panels. In this application digital technology in plants has transformed centralised control rooms which manage industrial operations. Some systems can now also include touch screens rather than bulky switches.

PJ Boner is based in Ireland and supplies digital indicators and industrial instrumentation as well as full automation, weighing and calibration services. http://www.pjboner.com