Technology selection for Industry 4.0 oriented condition-based monitoring system: A case study in the paper mills industry

Today, we have many options for hardware and software technology solutions for the migration of the manufacturing sector to an industry 4.0. However, there are many cases in which the adoption of new technologies has been slowed mainly due to uneven growth in the industry, little standardization, poor systems’ integration, lack of knowledge, and the lack of providers who understand the real needs of companies. The purpose of this work is to present a methodology for selecting the proper technology that was developed after characterizing and quantifying the industry’s requirements. Our methodology presents criteria for evaluating and selecting technology providers that focus on four dimensions: technical criteria, purchase criteria, additional services for the operation of the products, and operating costs. This methodology represents a practical way to qualify technology providers, assigning them a quantitative score so that the decision-making process is much faster, more convincing, and compelling, especially when adopting new technology. The methodology was built and used into a paper mill for selecting sensor suppliers to implement a condition monitoring system that captures vibration signals at different points of paper presses. The evaluation was successful, resulting in a winning provider being selected and the IoT sensor-based system implemented.