CLOUD-BASED INVENTORY TRANSFORMS INDUSTRIES
By simply logging into a website or using an App, real-time data is in front of staff who need it in order for them to make timely decisions regarding bin inventory management which is available anywhere, anytime. Today, cloud-based programs are compatible with a wide range of sensors and measurement technologies. Their versatility lends them to be used with bins, as well as tanks or silos of different shapes and sizes, storing all types of grain, ingredients, or feed.
Combining cloud-based apps and advanced-level sensor technology makes inventory and supply chain management easier. Information is portable and available anywhere there is internet access from a phone, tablet, or PC. Total transparency, fewer discrepancies, and more information lead to better decision-making by millers.
For example:
> Better control - centralized digital control, minimal human intervention, faster and timelier outputs
> Cost containment - less overtime, automation of daily tasks, fewer inefficiencies, no emergency or late delivery charges
> Historical reporting
> Improved monitoring - real-time reports of on-hand supply, forecast when feed will run out, data is continuously updated effortlessly
> Optimize production processes - streamline communication between people and devices and get everyone on the same page
> Process improvements - reduce material outages, production stoppages due to shortages, fewer batch processing errors
> Security – data is stored securely and safely Simplicity - no servers, no IT department, programming updates done by the hosting provider
> Time savings
> Vendor-managed inventory - ingredient suppliers can be assigned login credentials and viewing rights, so they can monitor inventory in tandem with the mill
CLOUD PROGRAMS FOR FEED, MILLING
BinMaster’s BinCloud® platform is an integrated cloud foundation for data monitoring of inventory contained in bins, tanks, and silos. It enables on-site and remote workers to work via the cloud from wherever they are. There are specialized SaaS offerings suited for grain storage operations, and flour and feed mills.
BinView® is used in agriculture and food processing to monitor all types of solids, powders, and liquids. It is used by grain storage facilities, feed mills, pet food processors, and food and beverage plants. It can be used with all types of level sensor technologies including non-contact radar, 3D Level Scanner, and laser level transmitters.
FeedView® is customized for livestock farmers. This comprehensive feed management solution combines wireless, battery-powered laser-level sensors with simple-to-use software. It automatically measures bin levels, projects feed needs using historical consumption rates, records the use of medicated feeds, and lets farms place orders with the feed mill. Automated alerts ensure farms know when to schedule deliveries, preventing feed shortages and eliminating late delivery charges. Allowing the feed mill access to FeedView® allows the mill and the farms to better coordinate their production and delivery.
A THREE-STEP SYSTEM
Step 1: Type, Size
The type, size, or number of bins If there is material in a bin, tank, or hopper there is a sensor to measure it. Begin designing your system by creating a list of the vessels, their dimensions, the type of material stored inside, and any existing equipment installed or used on the bin like a temperature cable, ladder, or sweep. This ensures the sensor can be matched to its job. Nuances, such as access to, or structures in, the vessel may also be contributing factors to sensor specification.
Also, note if the bins are grouped in any way by location. Bins grouped together physically can be addressed with wiring configurations, such as daisy-chaining, which can save on wiring costs. Bins distanced and further from power can be good candidates for battery-operated sensors and wireless devices. An inventory management system can be used across multiple plants or corporately for hundreds of silos. Dryers, day bins, fuel, and chemical tanks are also excellent candidates for level sensors and inventory monitoring. They can be easily added to the same system as bins.
Step 2: Frequency of measurement updates
Consider if you want measurements updated constantly or if readings at intervals throughout the day will suffice. Continuous-level sensors do as their name implies; they update continuously and in real-time. Readings taken at pre-set time intervals or on-demand may also work for your plant. Technologies such as radar update in just seconds while the wireless laser is best for intervals every hour or three or four times a day to conserve battery life. Some can be programmed at set intervals, such as marking the beginning or end of a shift and can take a measurement on demand with the push of a button.
Step 3: Where to view the data
From a communications standpoint, determine where staff need to access the data. Solutions can be designed to offer visibility from a control room, office, remote location - such as corporate headquarters - or from home. These systems have the option to log in to view inventory anywhere you have an internet connection. Another common device to provide convenience in the plant is a control console or digital panel meter. These can be installed for walk-up or drive-up access, indoors or outdoors.
For example, a driver delivering grain should check the bin level before they start filling it. They can confirm the entire load will fit into the bin and prevent the risk of overfilling. These push-button devices are easy to use and can be used for view-only access to data on the plant floor. An automated inventory system using level sensors and software are highly affordable. They offer simplicity and speed while allowing mill personnel to be safe and more effective in their jobs.
