The functionality and consequent benefits of the entire NHDS product range derive from the software fitted to the remote monitoring units and host terminal.  The precise nature of the data delivered from these units to the desktop is determined by the specific application, but may be considered to be in one or more of three general categories, described below. The Messenger remote telemetry units and Host Terminal are designed to address these issues.  Note that all information is produced automatically and continuously and is available on demand by the user from a desktop PC.

This is true business information, mainly derived from data collected from across an entire manufacturing process, and is based on real time, calculated and historical data. The data may take many forms but typically provides business information about the following manufacturing plant issues:

• Energy consumed per product item produced
• Manpower planning
• Product delay times
• Production costs
• Waste produced and costs of waste
• Process efficiency
• Product quality
• Product batch tracking

This is information relating to the maintenance of a particular manufacturing machine or item of plant and is largely based upon derived historical data. Examples are:

• Number of cycles of equipment operation
• Equipment downtime analysis
• Time remaining until next maintenance period
• Maintenance records
• Remote diagnostics

This is information about the current operation of an item of plant or machinery. Such information may also be available through an existing automation system. However, many smaller, newer or mobile machines may not be connected as part of an automation system and will therefore be operated manually. Information is available in real time or as an historical record over time. Typical information provided could be:

• Number of units of production processed by the monitored machinery
• Machine parameters - temperature, pressure, level, etc

It can be seen that the potential application of the product range is very wide and the type of information supplied by the installed product offers benefits to business planners, financial management staff and machine operators.