Operational Intelligence
The ability to make decisions during ongoing operations not based on gut feeling, but on real-time data and connected expert knowledge. It is the step from 'knowing what was' (Business Intelligence) to 'knowing what to do now'.
The Difference from Business Intelligence (BI)
Many companies confuse Operational Intelligence (OI) with Business Intelligence (BI).
- BI (The Rearview Mirror): Analyzes historical data for strategic decisions. Example: 'What was the OEE last quarter?'
- OI (The Navigation System): Uses real-time data for immediate action. Example: 'The temperature at plant 3 is rising – switch on pump B before the engine overheats.'
The 3 Pillars of Operational Intelligence
True OI only arises when three levels, often separated in the industry, merge:
- Hard Data: Sensor values, error codes from the PLC, states (via Flow Studio & Time Series Manager).
- Soft Knowledge: The experience of employees, context, manuals, 'tribal knowledge' (via Asset Intelligence).
- Action: The data must not only be displayed, it must trigger a workflow (via Flow Studio).
Why OI is Vital Today
In the past, experience was enough: the master could tell by the sound what the machine needed. Today, the masters are retiring (skill shortage) and the machines are too complex for intuition. Operational Intelligence institutionalizes experiential knowledge. It makes the company independent of individual 'heroes' and enables every employee to make expert decisions.
Hahn PRO's Approach
ADAM is the operating system for Operational Intelligence. We do not just collect data for dashboards. We close the loop: The machine reports an error (data), ADAM provides the repair instructions (knowledge), and the worker reports the solution back (learning).