Remote Monitoring and Visualization of Inventory Levels
Typ
Examensarbete för masterexamen
Program
Production engineering (MPPEN), MSc
Publicerad
2021
Författare
Kindlundh, Anna
Larsson, Sanne
Modellbyggare
Tidskriftstitel
ISSN
Volymtitel
Utgivare
Sammanfattning
Industry 4.0 and mass customization sets high requirements on flexibility of inven tory management. When these requirements are unfulfilled, material shortages can
occur, which can result in production stoppages. By monitoring inventory levels, the
risk of such shortages occurring can be reduced. The physical inventory must, how ever, correspond to the monitored, digital representation of the inventory. Existing
solutions for avoiding inaccuracies of inventory levels are limited, and technologies
for register inventory levels of boxes stored in flow racks were therefore explored in
this thesis. Further, the aim was to integrate one, or several, of the explored concepts
in a real-world system and visualize the data into a digital twin of the system to
enable remote monitoring. The methodology was based on a theoretical framework
and a mapping of technologies, followed by a concept creation phase and integration
and visualization of the concepts in a digital twin. Throughout the project, a case
study was used to identifying concept requirements and evaluating the concepts on
a real-world system. Technologies found suitable for register inventory levels and
enable remote monitoring are barcodes, Radio Frequency Identification (RFID),
weight sensors, distance sensors, and contact sensors. The two concepts that fulfill
the requirements from the case study are based on a weight sensor, respectively a
distance sensor. In the concepts, data from the sensors are sent by WiFi to an
Internet of Things (IoT) platform and then integrated and visualized in a digital
twin with a low level of data integration. To conclude, there are ways to monitor
inventory levels remotely in a flow rack. An ultrasonic distance sensor is proved to
satisfyingly measure the correct number of boxes stored in a flow rack. However,
the concept requires well-followed procedures to minimize the risk of human errors
and thereby avoid inaccuracies.
Beskrivning
Ämne/nyckelord
Inventory Management, Inventory Inaccuracies, Remote Monitoring, , Sensors, Case Study, Digital Twin, Industry 4.0, Visualization