Manufacturing Today Issue - 236 May 2025 | Page 23

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Safety
Sensors embedded into safety barriers, racking systems, and pedestrian zones generate the kind of granular data that validates every virtual test. For example, impact sensors can reveal repeated collisions in high-traffic areas, while floor-level monitoring can flag congestion points where human and machine movements overlap. Without these systems in place and the data they provide, there is no accurate baseline from which to model or improve.
Manufacturers that treat risk management as a key data source are already ahead of the game. With impact sensors, wearables, and environmental monitors in place, they are collecting precise, time-stamped insights into how their sites really run day to day. This kind of detail flows straight into their digital twins, turning simulations into accurate reflections of how things actually work. Equipment placement, traffic flow, and pressure points are not guessed or modelled on best-case scenarios – they are based on real events, captured as they happen. The result is a simulation that mirrors reality with depth and reliability, creating a platform for genuine process refinement and strategic planning.
Smart safety systems fuel smarter operations
A solid safety system protects workers and equipment while turning everyday risk events into useful insights. As safety tech gets smarter, the data it captures shifts from simple incident logs to predictive signals. If a barrier logs repeated low-level hits in one spot, it is likely flagging a layout issue. Temperature and air quality sensors, often there to tick compliance boxes, can highlight patterns tied to slowdowns or drops in output. Every part of the safety setup becomes a sensor feeding into a bigger operational story.
Digital twins thrive on such insights. When safety data is integrated from the start, virtual models evolve from static reflections into dynamic tools. They can predict the
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