PQE Case Study:

Topics In Quality The Internet of Things

Assignment 1
Case Study: Process Upgrade with IoT
1. Select any industrial or commercial product manufacturing process
2. Find or Create a simple illustration/diagram of the process or a critical process step (please credit the image source)
3. Identify 1 IoT type data signal that could come from an external source and an actuator it could control
4. Identify 1 in-process quality sensor and an in-process actuator it could control
5. Identify 1 in-process quality sensor and an IoT type data signal it could send to an external process
6. Show the location and use of your selected sensors, actuators, and signals on the process diagram

Process

Input: Output: Output:

Input: Sensor Input: Sensor
Signal Actuator Signal

Output:
Actuator
 Example: Process Diagram
with IoT Upgrades
Actuator: Output Data Signal:
Input Data Volume Sensor to ensure
To warehouse to
Signal: Valve to control sufficient material supply replenish supply
Customer selection of
Desired Flavour flavourings

*My process
Temperature diagram includes
Sensor the entire chewing
To ensure proper gum
melt consistency manufacturing
process.

For more complex

processes, you
Actuator: Natural may choose to
Gas Valve to focus on 1 or
adjust temperature more critical steps
in the process.

 1 IoT input signal + process control actuator

 1 in-process sensor + process control actuator
Image Source: Hanafi S, 2014, “IELTS Task 1: Process of Making Chewing Gum”  1 in-process sensor + output data signal to external process
retrieved from https://essayforum.com/writing/process-making-chewing-gum-55370/
Case Study: Process Upgrade with IoT
6. Find commercially available devices that could potentially* be used for this purpose
• Common sensor and actuator types are listed here: https://www.avsystem.com/blog/iot-sensors-iot-actuators/
• *Ideally, the sensor(s) chosen should satisfy the operating range of the selected
process, but this is not necessary for this exercise. Please try to find something that is
at least close to what you might use.
• Find sensors or actuators designed for IoT (talk through wi-fi, bluetooth or LAN) or
send/receive digital data (not just analog voltage or manual input)
• For this exercise, you could consider an Arduino compatible sensor or an available
industrial sensor.
• Several sources are listed here: https://www.postscapes.com/iot-sensors-actuators/
7. Create a table listing your selected sensors and actuators
• Identify the type of device, source, basic operating principle, and type of signal it uses
(if possible)
 Example:
Quality Sensor Package
Device Picture Product Name Product Link Input Output

Melt Temperature Gikfun DS18B20 Temperature DataNAB temperature (-55°C to +125°C) Binary data stream and
Sensor Sensor - Waterproof for device identifier
Arduino EK1083C

Additive Tank ThingsLog Tank Level https://thingslog.com/t Barometric pressure 2G/GSM, LoRa or NB-IoT
Volume Sensor monitoring system ank-level-monitoring/ network data

Flavour Flow Flow Valve Controller https://www.intersol-e Internet (wifi) signal/flow command Ball valve open/close
Valve ng.com/iot-h800l-ball- position
(open/close) valve/
Controller

Natural Gas Flow Mass Flow Controller https://www.bronkhors receives desired mass flow setting On-board PID controller for
(volume) t.com/int/products/gas mass flow control
Controller -flow/in-flow-high-flow/ Internally monitors mass flow with on-
f-106ai/
board sensor and a microprocessor
based pc-board