Armstrong World Industries
Armstrong World Industries improves its production with AVEVA InTouch HMI
Armstrong World Industries wanted real-time production data directly accessible on the shop floor, as its operators could not easily see how their equipment was running. A lack of operational visibility, the difficulty of bringing IT and OT sources together in a single solution and the cost of a large-scale deployment were all obstacles. The manufacturer relied on the AVEVA InTouch HMI Web Client to provide industrial monitoring, centralizing information from PLCs, Excel spreadsheets and databases in a single interface, complemented by custom process and maintenance screens. The maintenance culture shifted from reactive to proactive. The results are tangible: 21% less changeover time on one line, six hours of additional capacity freed up, 7,500 square feet of throughput gained on a faulty dispenser and a 0.25% reduction in scrap.
FAQ
How does AVEVA InTouch HMI deliver real-time data directly on the shop floor?
AVEVA InTouch HMI, in its Web Client version, gives Armstrong World Industries operators real-time visualization of production data that can be viewed directly on the plant floor. The interface brings together information from PLCs, Excel spreadsheets and databases on a single screen. This immediate accessibility at the heart of the plant transforms operational decision-making, shortens response times and enables teams to act on industrial performance without having to consult several fragmented systems.
Why unify IT and OT sources in a single supervision interface?
Industry has historically suffered from a separation between IT data (ERP, Excel, databases) and OT data (PLCs, sensors). Armstrong World Industries used AVEVA InTouch HMI to bring these heterogeneous sources together in a single view. This IT/OT convergence is a pillar of digital transformation: it eliminates silos, makes indicators more reliable and gives managers and operators alike a consistent view of industrial performance, an essential condition for running a connected plant.
How do you move from reactive to proactive maintenance?
Armstrong World Industries transformed its maintenance culture with customized process and maintenance screens in AVEVA InTouch HMI. Operators now identify drifts in real time before they turn into failures. This transition relies on continuous visualization of key indicators and on dashboards dedicated to maintenance. The benefit is twofold: fewer unplanned shutdowns and better planning of interventions, a major lever for improving OEE.
What concrete operational results can industrial supervision deliver?
Armstrong World Industries achieved measurable gains: a 21% reduction in changeover time on one line, six hours of additional capacity thanks to an average 4-minute reduction in changeovers, 7,500 square feet of throughput gained by identifying a problem on a distributor, and a 0.25% reduction in scrap. These results show that a targeted deployment of AVEVA InTouch HMI delivers fast, measurable ROI, provided the technology is combined with a continuous improvement approach.
How can the cost of an enterprise-wide supervision deployment be controlled?
One of the obstacles identified by Armstrong World Industries was the cost and duration of a multi-site deployment. AVEVA InTouch HMI, with its web client and customizable screens, allows gradual site-by-site implementation, reusing standardized templates and objects. This modular approach limits the initial investment, accelerates the return on investment and simplifies application maintenance over time, while ensuring visual consistency across the group's plants.