Services

IT services at Ripley Solutions

Ripley Solutions offers a wide range of IT support services for the manufacturing industry to help streamline manufacturing businesses’ IT and OT systems and keep them ahead of the digitisation curve.

Consultancy and design

Finding the most effective solutions to improve an existing production process or IT system is key to creating a digital transformation, without making other systems obsolete.

Ripley Solutions works with customers to understand their individual requirements. By listening closely to what the customer wants and developing a deep understanding of their business, we can identify solutions meet requirements and implement them in the business.

Find out more about our expertise here.

Installation

Integrating new equipment into existing infrastructure allows businesses to make the most from their past Industry 4.0 investments and maximise the full benefits of any new investments. 

At Ripley Solutions, we know that every part of your business connected. So, once we have designed tailored IT solutions that will improve your business operations, we will install both IT systems and manufacturing technology, ensuring seamless integration with existing operations.

IT and OT integration

Traditionally, companies treat IT and operational technology — the industrial systems keeping industrial facilities running — separately. These two areas are often managed by separate teams that rarely need to communicate. As a result, enterprise IT and industrial OT teams work well in their respective silos, but there is often tension between the two spaces.

As more businesses aim to realise Industry 4.0 and digitalise their operations, they need connected equipment that will enable them to improve resource efficiency, enhance operations and remain competitive. As a result, manufacturing businesses are looking at how they can integrate the two systems to improve operations.

Find out more about our IT and OT integration services.

Cloud platforms

Many businesses are discovering the benefits of migrating to the cloud. It gives businesses access to real-time data from anywhere, enabling them to identify potential issues and optimise operations.

While the cost of cloud-based solutions is typically lower than traditional on-premise systems, we find that some businesses are paying too much for the cloud. Businesses can outsource all IT setup and maintenance to the cloud and should be paying for resources when they use them.

Investing in cloud storage also removes the need for bulky onsite data storage and gives operators secure access to factory data from any location.

Cloud consolidation enables businesses to:

• Reduce operational costs
• Streamline processes
• Secure access from multiple locations

Ripley Solutions specialises in Azure and Office 365 cloud platforms, which remotely store manufacturing data.

Network infrastructure

Most businesses require some form of IT infrastructure to operate. Infrastructure can be deployed in the facility or in a cloud computing system and includes all the components needed to deliver IT services, such as hardware, software, operating systems and data storage. However, because it is not always visible, IT often operates in the background unnoticed — much like the plumbing in your house.

Rather than letting IT operate in the background and only acting when something goes wrong, businesses should proactively review IT infrastructure to ensure it always meets the needs of the business.

We can install interconnected industrial or wireless networks, servers, sensors, edge computing, end user computing and more. Streamlined infrastructure provides operators with a centralised hub of data that can help inform decision making.

Why upgrade?
• Does the current infrastructure suit employees?
• Can remote teams access what they need?
• Are your IT operating costs too high?
• Is the system unreliable?
• Is the business always fighting fires instead of thinking about the future?

Products include:
• Networks including industrial and wireless networks
• Servers
• Edge computing
• End user computing

Experiencing issues with your IT systems? Read our advice on upgrading IT infrastructure.

Cyber security

Focusing on the cyber essentials is important of every business — leaving the business open to hackers can result in data losses and costly downtime. The risks are even greater if hackers can access operational technology to affect machinery operation. Businesses should regularly review their processes and discover where they can improve security.

We can help to assess current infrastructure and identify any potential threats. We also offer a range of end-to-end cyber security services covering all networks, devices and machinery ensures there are no backdoors that give hackers access to your business. If a machine that is integrated into a wider system is compromised, hackers can access the wider network and access sensitive information.

Protecting these systems from hackers reduces the risk of costly issues occurring, such as sensitive information being leaked, production lines being forcible stopped or IT systems being held at ransom.

To find more advice, read our content answering what is ransomware? Or check out our blog on the importance of cyber security for small businesses.

Enterprise resource planning

ERP systems integrate management with real time data collection to help the business make more factually informed decisions.

ERP systems make reporting to stakeholders and the supply chain easier and ensures industry compliance is traceable.

We primarily work with Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central

Digital Twins

Create a virtual representation of the manufacturing process in real time to problem solve and adapt operations without impacting the production process. Manufacturers can use a digital twin to detect and investigate machine issues remotely and test the integration of new technologies with the existing systems, without any downtime.

Manufacturing and engineering simulation

Use computer modelling to virtually test manufacturing methods, check processes and validate designs before production. Simulating designs enables users to quickly test different configurations during research and development, reducing costs and improving quality.

Perform structural and fluid analysis using FEA and CFD tools such as Ansys Mechanical, LS-Dyna and Fluent to simulate real-world conditions. Simulate the operation of CNC machines using software such as Vericut to analyse the movement of the tool path to check for collisions and find areas of inefficiency.

Manufacturing execution system

A MES monitors and controls intricate manufacturing systems to help simplify control over the whole system.

Data can easily flow from the factory floor to management to enhance the communication channels across a business.

Supervisory control and data acquisition

Control systems can include computers, network communication and interfaces. SCADA systems provide high levels of supervision across large numbers of machines and processes, allowing management to easily oversee a large factory floor.

We work with OEMs such as Siemens and Allen Bradley.

Programmable Logic Controller

Control systems continuously monitor and control mechanical processes across a factory floor. PLCs increase the level of automation in the business, resulting in shortened response times, more reliable processes and greater productivity.

We work with OEMs such as Siemens and Allen Bradley.

Shop floor data capture

Enter job progress data on the shop floor to provide insight into a task and highlight any possible bottlenecks. Management can use the real-time data to quickly generate product costing and productivity reports on machinery and employees.

Product lifecycle management

End-to-end IT solutions for the manufacturing industry enable businesses to use software to connect computer aided design with customer’s specific engineering and manufacturing requirements. This ensures project development, costs, quality and distribution are all within the customer’s requirements and fully traceable.

Customer relationship management

Businesses can easily collate large amounts of data from their sales and customer service department by using a CRM system. By analysing this data, businesses can notice sales trends and target specific markets and companies to enhance the customer experience.