Frequently asked questions

General

• Is Evocon able to monitor my production process?

  Manufacturing companies in 14 different industries use Evocon. The most popular production output that our system registers are pieces and boxes. But the system can also monitor running meters, liters, productive work time, and flow production. And even though all companies have a slightly unique production process, we can always find a suitable solution.

  To learn more about how to monitor production with Evocon and what hardware you need, read our article: How to Monitor Production and Track OEE Using Evocon?

• How do I implement Evocon in my production?

  The process of setting up Evocon takes only a few days and consists of three steps:

  1. Contact us, so we can learn more about your production process and suggest a viable, reliable solution for you.
  2. We send the necessary hardware via courier and provide follow-up instructions.
  3. Upon delivery, all your team will have to do is complete the installation by following the simple instructions provided.

  When ongoing support is ever required, we’ll provide it free via phone or email.

• What hardware is required for each machine or production line?

  In general, the hardware you need to collect data from machines or production lines using Evocon is:

  1. Evocon’s IIoT device (used to log production signals)
  2. Ethernet cable
  3. Sensor or relay
  4. A display device (PC or tablet)

  The final solution depends on your production process but you can learn more from here: What Hardware You Need and Does Evocon Provide It?

• How do I connect my machines and production lines to Evocon?

  There are multiple options to connect production signals from your machines to Evocon. The most common way is a new industrial sensor. You can also use a sensor that is already available on your production line or machine. Another standard method is to use a PLC output connection using a relay (e.g. with Andon lights). These signals connect to Evocon’s IIoT device that sends the captured data to our cloud server in AWS.

  If you have machines that already collect production data to a local database, then we can set up Evocon as a hardware-free solution (data transfer is via HTTPS API requests).

  Learn more: How to Monitor Production and Track OEE Using Evocon?

• What is OEE and why does it matter?

  OEE (Overall Equipment Effectiveness) is a lean manufacturing tool and universal best practice to monitor, evaluate and improve the effectiveness of a production process. This could be an assembly line, machine cell, packaging line, filling machine, CNC machine, or any other production equipment.

  We use OEE because it helps us understand our production process.  By quantifying and visualizing all losses from our production line and machines, OEE not only shows what we produced with our resources but also what we could have produced. In other words, OEE helps us understand the true potential of our factories.

  Learn more: What is OEE and how does it work?

Partners

• What is the business model that partners can expect?

  The business model that we offer to our partners is based on the revenue-sharing principle. But since each program varies in its nature and extent (roles and responsibilities), the exact details are agreed upon during the onboarding process.

• Will I have a dedicated person supporting me?

  Yes, you will have your own personal point of contact and helpful engineers making sure you haven’t missed a thing during the onboarding.

  In addition, you will get access to Evocon partner Slack portal where you can ask questions and get support from already existing partners.

• How long is the onboarding process to become a partner?

  The partner onboarding process can be divided into the following steps:

  1. Agreement on the partnership model
  2. Training and overview of Evocon
  3. Running a pilot at a client (free trial)

  The third step is the one that usually takes the longest but is the most important.

  When running the free trial, we will support you every step of the way. It enables you to experience how it is to work with us and how your client experiences the use of Evocon.

• How will Evocon support me becoming a partner?

  Depending on the partnership type Evocon will provide:

  1. All the tools necessary to use Evocon
  2. Step-by-step training on how to use Evocon
  3. Support (both technical and software)

  Our partners are on par with our clients and receive the same amount of care and attention.

• What do I need to get started with the partner program?

  The first thing is to fill out our partner form and get in touch with us. Secondly, Evocon expects your company to have a basic understanding of OEE and what kind of impact it has on production efficiency.

  You should also have an existing network in the manufacturing industry alongside an understanding of how our OEE software will complement your clients. All of the above make the first steps a lot easier and pave the way for a fruitful partnership.

  Learn more: What is OEE and How Does It Work?

Pricing

• What other hardware related costs incur with Evocon?

  The additional costs related to the hardware necessary to run Evocon largely depend on:

  • What machines you want to monitor and how (PLC, relays, sensors);
  • What hardware is already present in your factory (sensors, cables, internet router);
  • Which displays you want to use for displaying real-time production data on the shop floor.

  Our team will help determine all of the above during and after the free trial period. Lastly, we’ll add a shipping fee to any hardware you want us to provide.

• What if I want to cancel my subscription?

  During the free trial period, you can cancel the Evocon subscription at any time, as there are no financial commitments. If you choose not to continue with Evocon after the free trial, then the only requirement is that you send back the hardware that we provided.

  After the free trial period, the notice time for canceling your Evocon subscription is 3 months.

• What is not included in the license price?

  The main parts of our service that are not included in the license price are:

  • On-site visits
  • Evocon’s IIoT device
  • Hardware (sensors, cables, displays) and shipping
  • Integrations
  • Custom developments

  A good rule of thumb is that any special requests are probably not included in the license price.

• What is included in the license price?

  Evocon offers transparent and fixed licensing, where the whole service offering is covered by the software license fee. The license and OEE software price cover the following:

  • All standard software modules
  • Data export
  • Customer support
  • Annual maintenance of software
  • Software updates
  • Evocon’s IIoT device firmware updates
  • Implementation support and configuration
  • Training and onboarding support
  • Data storage for 4 years
  • Unlimited users

• What makes up the price of Evocon?

  There are three factors that make up the standard price of Evocon for your company:

  • Software licenses
  • Evocon’s IIoT device
  • Additional hardware (sensors, cable, displays)

  Extra fees can occur for integrations and custom developments.

Sustainability

• How is the electricity data integrated with Evocon?

  Energy (including electricity) meters can be connected to the Evocon IIoT device. Most industrial power meters have a digital output, which means that they can send signals to Evocon, and Evocon can be configured to interpret them.

  If electricity meters are not installed, it should be done by a competent electrician who has the required knowledge of the electrical connections and power rating of the machine being measured. Evocon does not install electricity meters.

  Once meters are connected to the Evocon IIoT device, the output they provide can be stored and used within the Evocon system.

  

• How does Evocon help improve production quality?

  Evocon helps gather data on when and why products are scrapped. That enables you to make better decisions when planning production in the future, thus improving the quality. In addition, our system helps automate and digitize quality-related checks on the shop floor.

• What other data can be monitored in Evocon for sustainability purposes?

  Since the transition to green manufacturing is just getting started, we don’t yet know of all the beneficial applications of integrating Evocon’s OEE data with other environmental indicators.

  What we do know is that Evocon can send data to any system, and most data can be integrated with Evocon (if accessible) to be monitored. So, let us know what you need, and we’ll help you figure out if we can help you.

• Can Evocon data be exported or integrated with other platforms?

  We understand that Evocon is not the only system our customers use. It’s important to have access to the data. That’s why Evocon offers two-way integrations for sending and receiving data. Evocon can be set up to work with your company databases manually or using integrations. If you have a more specific question on the process, don’t hesitate to ask us.

• Are there any social benefits to using Evocon?

  Evocon customers report improvements in team morale and productivity. Having real-time data on the manufacturing process helps teams to collaborate more effectively and make objective decisions based on data.

Spanish

• ¿Puede Evocon monitorear mi proceso de producción?

  Empresas de manufactura de 14 diferentes industrias utilizan Evocon. El tipo producción más popular que nuestro sistema registra son piezas y cajas. Sin embargo, nuestro sistema puede monitorear metros de largo, litros, tiempo de trabajo productivo, y producción de flujo. Y aunque todas las empresas poseen un proceso de producción ligeramente único, siempre podemos encontrar una solución adecuada.

  Para conocer más sobre cómo monitorear la producción con Evocon y qué hardware necesita, puede leer nuestro artículo en inglés: How to Monitor Production and Track OEE Using Evocon?

• ¿Cómo puedo implementar Evocon en mi producción?

  El proceso de inicio con Evocon toma unos pocos días y consiste en tres pasos:

  1. Complete el formulario de contacto en nuestra Web. Nos pondremos en contacto para conocer más sobre su proceso de producción y sugeriremos una solución viable y confiable para usted.
  2. Enviamos el hardware necesario via courier y brindamos instrucciones para los siguientes pasos.
  3. Una vez el equipo llegue a sus manos, lo único que su equipo debe hacer es completar la instalación siguiendo las instrucciones simples que proveeremos.

  En caso de requerir alguna ayuda, la brindaremos de forma gratuita via teléfono o correo electrónico.

  Conozca más en esta guía en inglés: Step by Step Guide: How to Set Up Evocon?

• ¿Qué hardware es necesario para cada cada máquina o línea de producción?

  En general, el hardware que necesita para recolectar datos de las máquinas y líneas de producción utilizando Evocon es:

  1. El dispositivo IIoT de Evocon (utilizado para registrar las señales de producción)
  2. Cable Ethernet
  3. Sensor o relay
  4. Un dispositivo de pantalla (computadora o tableta)

  La solución final depende de su proceso de producción, pero puede conocer más en este artículo en inglés: What Hardware You Need and Does Evocon Provide It?

• ¿Cómo conecto mis máquinas y líneas de producción a Evocon?

  Hay múltiples opciones para conectar las señales de producción desde sus máquinas a Evocon. La manera más común es un nuevo sensor industrial.  Puede utilizar un sensor que ya esté disponible en su línea de producción o máquina. Otro método estándar es utilizar una conexión de salida de PLC usando un relay (por ejemplo con una señal Andon). Estas señales se conectan con el dispositivo IIoT de Evocon que envía los datos capturados a nuestros servidores en la nube de AWS.

  Si ya tiene máquinas que recolectan datos de producción a una base de datos locales, entonces podemos configurar Evocon como una solución sin necesidad del hardware (transferencia de datos a través de solicitudes de API HTTPS).

  Conozca más en este artículo en inglés: How to Monitor Production and Track OEE Using Evocon?

• ¿Qué es OEE y por qué es importante?

  OEE en inglés (Eficiencia General de los Equipos) es una herramienta de manufactura lean y buenas prácticas universales para monitorear, evaluar y mejorar la eficiencia de un proceso de producción. Ya sea una línea de ensamblaje, una célula de una sola máquina, línea de empaque, maquinaria de rellenado, máquina CNC, o cualquier otro equipo de producción.

  Utilizamos OEE porque nos ayuda a comprender nuestro proceso de producción. Al cuantificar y visualizar todas las pérdidas de nuestra línea de producción y máquinas, OEE no sólo nos muestra qué produjimos con nuestros recursos, pero también qué pudimos haber producido. En otras palabras, OEE nos ayuda a entender el verdadero potencial de nuestras fábricas.

  Conozca más en este artículo en inglés: What is OEE and how does it work?