The winds of change

The wind industry is well-positioned for change

A challenge in any digitalization endeavour is undefined ways of working. If it’s not clear what should be digitalized, the chances of success are slim at best. The wind industry on the other hand is well positioned. Operating procedures are well defined and documented already however the challenge is that this documentation is handled in a manual way today which relies heavily on the human factor which can be influenced, and furthermore it is not very efficient as it takes time. These are clear areas where digitalisation of data records could deliver immediate advantages.

Mobile connectivity, cloud computing and smart devices like phones and tablets are enablers for digital transformation in all areas, including operational sites. As true smart bolting tools (ie, those will real sensors built into the tools) now start to have a stronger presence in the market, there is a great opportunity to improve quality control, work smarter and lower cost across the industry.

What would be the biggest benefit from digital tooling?

Being able to track data and have full traceability of your processes.
Being able to easily document data and send reports instantly.
Making the overall processes quicker to complete, with less steps needed to be taken.

Digitalization in manufacturing for the last 20 years…

The last 20 years has seen a revolution in terms of digitalization in manufacturing. Global competition is driving waste reduction and bad quality is simply not accepted. In some areas digital documentation has even been accelerated by regulatory requirements. Atlas Copco has been part of this journey ever since we launched our first connected tightening controller, the Power Focus 3000, more than 20 years ago. Our ToolsNet database software is the backbone for digital documentation at hundreds of manufacturing plants around the world in all types of industries, from automotive, electronics, aerospace, and today also renewable energy.

Digital documentation on bolted connections has evolved from simply replacing manual markings (for example with paint) and paper documentation of fasteners into a vital tool for data driven process optimization and decisions making. Service campaigns, process changes and investment decisions are supported by real time taken from information provided by large databases with tightening data.

Customers of everyday products from the industries mentioned above, such as automobiles, phones, and appliances have enjoyed the benefits of increased quality and lowered costs.