How to use python and flask to capture downtime losses on a production line by Ronald Tendai Maravanyika

This talk is base on how to use python and flask to replace paper capturing type of the **downtimes** on a production line.Downtime refers to the time where the machine is stopped for a particular period/time while it is suppose to run eg breakdown.This project used python, flask and a mysql database and it was a web application.It was done as a case study for Unilever Zimbabwe (pvt) ltd.The project was done on two washing powder production lines. It was all about capturing and storing time losses and the specific type of the time loss in real time. I did this as my first python project so it it presents how you can come up with an idea from a different field and solve it using python.

Target audience will be mainly industrial engineers and beginners.It also showcase the use of software in production factories.This can also help students and learners on how creative they can become while doing a project either as an individual task or as an educational requirement.This talk will showcase how you can implement python in an enviroment where it is not known or used.

Transcript

2. About me B.Eng (hons) in Mechatronics Engineering Passed Unilever Southern Africa Claster Twitter handle:@Rmaravanyika Email: rmaravanyika@gmail.com
3. What to expect? The idea is to showcase: How the project came to life How to capture downtime using software The benefits
4. Downtime?
5. What was on the ground?
8. 1. Understand what we want to capture Accountability Realtime recording 2. How we can get real data? We need to capture time
10. SCADA systems Expensive and have high installation costs Difficult to setup High maintenance cost Web application Relatively cheap development cost Very low installation cost Easy to setup
11. Tools to develop a web application The idea is to showcase: Python Wordpress PHP
12. Python web frameworks Django Flask Pyramid
13. Python vs the problem Can easily handle dates and time, use datetime library Time can be displayed in different formats: strftime and strptime Easily handle difference between time using the timedelta
14. Flask vs the problem Light weight frame work It works well with a MySQL database, using the flask-mysqldb Can handle user information using WTForms library Flask can easily handle trigger points
15. How to trigger the timer he easiest way to trigger the timer is to use buttons START STOP
16. Why MySQL database? Because data can be easily be exported to excel
18. I don’t have to change my access database
19. Individual tracking To allow individual tracking each user(technical operator) has a logging in account Different user code is assigned to each operator. This allows individual tracking of the operator Unaccountable time can be tracked to a certain user(technical operator)
20. Benefits Accountability is increased Digital way to capture data Environmentally friendly We have a more focused technical operator It’s a cheap way to reduce downtime Maintenance cost is cheaper then that of using SCADA systems
21. So who do we target Manufacturing companies eg Unilever, Nestle Process plants eg Platinum refining companies
22. That’s all from me. Thank you…
23. QUESTIONS ?