Industrial - Monitor manufacturing lines

Network video is currently being used for monitoring manufacturing lines, industrial and pharmaceutical processes, automation, warehouse and stock control systems to name just a few examples of industrial applications. Efficiency at a production plant can be greatly enhanced through the use of "virtual eyes."

Examples of where cameras can be used in an industrial setting:

Control room

At, for example, a rock crushing plant or chemical processing plant where there are health hazards for employees, remote monitoring of production processes provide the ideal solution. A network video system feeding images to the control room gives a plant worker the opportunity to check for machine malfunctions without the slightest risk of inhaling dust or toxic fumes.

Production lines and robots

Cameras observing an automated production line or factory robots can be programmed to send e-mail alerts if something unusual occurs. That way, the plant's staff is relieved of the monotonous and time-consuming process of watching out for machine malfunctions.

Troubleshooting

If a malfunction does occur and there are no service engineers in the area, network video can be used to set up a virtual meeting and get technical support at a distance.

Goods entrances

The accumulated costs of petty theft of raw materials entering and manufactured goods leaving a plant can add up to a huge problem over time. Network cameras work as a crime deterrent here, as well as offering an easy way to check the efficiency of the loading/unloading methods being used.

Storage areas

Making sure a storage system works well--that goods can be accessed and are efficiently managed--can significantly affect the bottom line at a manufacturing plant. The fact that storage is often handled at remote sites, usually due to the lower cost, makes this another good place to install network video.

Volkswagen (Germany), Pines Manufacturing (USA) and China XiNan Power Elc. are examples of Axis customers currently using network video products for industrial surveillance.