Sheffield tech firm launches next generation manufacturing machine monitoring system

27th January 2023

Fast-growing Sheffield tech start-up, FourJaw Manufacturing Analytics, has released its next-generation machine data monitoring platform, incorporating real-time Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) functionality, a key measure to drive productivity.

Fast-growing Sheffield tech start-up, FourJaw Manufacturing Analytics, has released its next-generation machine data monitoring platform, incorporating real-time Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) functionality, known to manufacturers as the gold standard for measuring productivity to improve manufacturing processes.

FourJaw 2.1 is the latest edition of the award-winning cloud-based manufacturing analytics software which utilises plug-and-play hardware to capture the top causes of machine downtime, giving manufacturers real-time visibility of the efficiency of their factory floors to drive process improvement, increase productivity, capacity and profitability.

The new functionality and platform improvements have been added as a result of customer feedback and are the first to be launched as part of FourJaw’s 2023 product roadmap. 

Robin Hartley-Willows, FourJaw Co-Founder and CTO said: “We started this business to help manufacturers of all shapes and sizes achieve their productivity potential, and I see FourJaw 2.1 as not just a small step, but a big leap towards achieving that goal. 

“Our new messaging features and tablet upgrades will empower factory floor staff to get the support they need when they need it and to access feedback on the productivity of their machines in real time. It's no secret that supporting factory floor staff is the key to productivity, and we are here to give them the tools to work smarter, not harder.

“The feedback from one of our customers was ’You've cracked it’ – as they’d previously gone to great lengths to try and measure OEE, but like many manufacturers found it a labour-intensive and often inaccurate process. That changes with FourJaw 2.1 as we make it possible to capture OEE in real-time from your machines, regardless of age, size or brand, using plug-and-play hardware.”

The FourJaw 2.1 analytics platform offers real-time measurement and visualisation of OEE, replacing manual, labour and time-intensive processes traditionally relied on by many manufacturers.  This release allows manufacturers to capture accurate OEE data and analyse it in real time. 

FourJaw 2.1 also focuses on improving communication between factory floor staff and management, due to a new native in-app messaging platform on tablets used by operators. This new functionality allows machine operators, factory floor supervisors or management to communicate with the right people at the right time.  This facilitates faster communication and therefore quicker remedies to any problems, with better teamwork and transparency across the business.  

Additionally, FourJaw has redesigned its operator workspace, giving machine operators the tools they need to understand, manage and improve their machine or cell/line productivity. FourJaw 2.1 also sees the introduction of new tablet hardware and mounts to improve user experience and security. 

FourJaw 2.1 is part of FourJaw’s second-generation data analytics platform and in Q1 2023 the company plans to add energy monitoring functionality allowing manufacturers to see how much energy each machine uses and costs.

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