Russian petrochemicals leader Sibur has teamed up with Brochesia, an Italian provider of software solutions for wearable devices, to support its network digitalization effort.
Brochesia’s smart glasses and augmented reality solutions will help the Russian group enhance several production processes, including maintenance and support services, using AR and developing remote assistance procedures.
The adoption of these solutions is presented as being part of Sibur’s digital transformation process, which “will lead [it] to the Industry 4.0 era, based on automation and data exchange in manufacturing technologies.”
“Our Network Modernization-Digitalization project is just starting, but we can already see positive outcomes: since we have adopted Brochesia’s B View solution, we have saved time and money in our plants while decreasing the travelling needs of our technicians and suppliers,” said Alexander Leus, Sibur’s Head of Industry 4.0.
Smart glasses vs. COVID-19
Smart glasses and augmented reality are made even more useful in times of epidemic: while regular repair works require an external examination, contractors cannot come from abroad as usual, explains Sibur. Now all external experts from abroad – Serbia, Italy, Korea, Belgium, France – and other regions of Russia can be intervene remotely.
“We started the technical proof of concept back in 2018, as these technologies were no more than an idea in the industry” Leus recalled in an exchange with East-West Digital News.
“We had to figure out how such tools could be used in real process in our plants in Western Siberia. The knowledge we’ve accumulated since then allow us to use AR-enhanced real-time communication technologies on a daily basis. The have helped us solve have some 250 business tasks already.”
While such technologies are being experimented in other regions of the world, Sibur has been among the first petrochemical companies to adopt them, confirmed Brochesia General Manager Christian Salvatori.
Sibur’s digital transformation program encompasses three main fields. Advanced analytics are used to build predictive models based on machine learning, big data, and visualization. Process digitization improves and simplifies business processes leveraging mobile apps and software automation. “Industry 4.0” is about sensors, computer vision, AR smart glasses and other such devices in operations. For example, IoT sensors and computer vision, along with with smart glasses, are used to control technological processes remotely and to enhance work safety.
