Sumana Biswas

60587747300

Publications - 1

Making the invisible visible: Non-intrusive scalable digitalisation using existing control signals in legacy medical device manufacturing equipment

Publication Name: Journal of Manufacturing Systems

Publication Date: 2026-06-01

Volume: 86

Issue: Unknown

Page Range: 1048-1065

Description:

With the advent of Industry 4.0 and Industrial Internet of Things, it is appreciated that data availability is essential to provide information to facilitate decision-making in relation to effective production operation and maintenance strategies. This study presents a case application of digitalisation to improve operational efficiency in a regulated medical device manufacturing environment. The case study focuses on a legacy ureteral stent production process in which ageing sideporting machines—classified as critical equipment — pose reliability challenges that impact operational efficiency. Regulatory constraints and cleanroom requirements limit the ability to retrofit sensors or replace legacy controllers, creating a significant gap in data availability. This paper describes a brownfield integration study enabling the transition to a more data-driven production environment. To address these challenges, a non-intrusive data aggregation solution was implemented using an Omron NX102 controller, enabling near-real-time monitoring of machine cycle counts, run times, and punch changes without altering validated equipment. A custom Human Machine Interface (HMI) and local CSV logging ensured traceability and compliance. The collected data was analysed using statistical methods and machine learning algorithms to predict maintenance needs. This approach facilitated the calculation of previously unavailable metrics such as Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) and supported targeted maintenance planning and operator training. The results demonstrate that applying Industry 4.0 principles to brownfield legacy systems in regulated environments can extend equipment life, reduce downtime, and enable data-driven decision-making. This work provides a practical roadmap for integrating legacy equipment with enterprise manufacturing systems in highly regulated manufacturing settings, bridging the gap between traditional processes and smart IIoT-enabled strategies.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.1016/j.jmsy.2026.04.026