A Flexible Data Acquisition System to Support Process Identification and Characterization.

A system has been developed to identify relationships between critical process variables for the purpose of process improvement and upgrading. It incorporates process monitoring, large data-set management, data visualization and fine-precision diagnostics. Implementing the process combines a meticulous and rigorous instrumentation selection with a data acquisition strategy. The identification of key process variables follows an Ishikawa process and is incorporated into a process model that supports the diagnostic function. A case study testing this methodology for a commercial gravure printing process was successfully completed. Understanding the mechanical behaviour of critical variables required data acquisition at sampling times up to 20ms. Data analysis was carried out in time, amplitude and frequency domains. The result of this work was a series of practical recommendations to reduce waste within the printing process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]