A Smart Inspection app has been developed by Hytec South Africa, in collaboration with Bosch Mining
A new smart inspection application (app) is set to revolutionise hydraulic inspection and servicing, allowing reports for hydraulic systems to be completed by means of cell phone or tablet and emailed to the relevant maintenance or section engineer in real time.
Developed by Hytec, the Smart Inspection app features a number of functionalities aimed at enabling engineers, foremen and service technicians to reduce downtime by scheduling service intervals, managing maintenance and assessing the quality of mine equipment. An addition to the app is the application of QR codes on components and hydraulic systems that allow identification of the asset, access to the specifications of the system as well as a detailed history of work done.
Each hydraulic system in a mine can be fitted with a QR code which carries the technical data and schematics for that system. A technician uses the app to scan the QR code and then selects the appropriate checklist, such as inspection or service sheet. Once this has been completed, the app calculates the inspection outcome and generates a report, including a risk analysis, and the results are then emailed directly to the responsible engineer.
“This app enables our customers to make use of ‘live’ reporting to assess the state of hydraulic equipment much faster than was possible with the manual inspection and service books method and make quicker, informed decisions for emergency repairs or planned maintenance,” explains Bosch Rexroth North West region regional manager Ralph Palphramand.
Hytec South Africa collaborated with Bosch Mining to develop the required Web-based software and the Smart Inspection app has been in use since early 2020.