Mitsubishi Electric Europe B.V. has launched DataNavigateApp, a browser-based production analytics solution designed to help manufacturers better understand machine performance, downtime and energy usage.
The launch comes as manufacturers face increasing pressure to improve productivity and reduce energy consumption amid rising operating costs, tighter production targets and ongoing engineering resource constraints. While many factories already collect large volumes of machine data, turning that information into practical operational insight that can be used on the shopfloor remains a significant challenge.
DataNavigateApp has been developed to help manufacturers gain greater visibility into machine performance, downtime and energy behaviour. The browser-based application is designed specifically for Mitsubishi Electric’s MELSEC iQ-R Series C Intelligent Function Module and can be installed via an SD memory card.
Supporting production-level visualisation, the solution provides manufacturers with a practical first step towards wider factory visualisation, Industrial IoT and digital transformation initiatives.
The platform has been built around three core principles: simple setup, monitoring from anywhere and easy data collection. Configuration is carried out through a standard web browser, eliminating the need for specialist programming expertise, ladder programming knowledge or C language development. Machine status and production trends can be viewed remotely from PCs or tablets without the need for dedicated HMI hardware.
DataNavigateApp also simplifies data collection from both Mitsubishi Electric and third-party PLC environments through standard industrial communication protocols. Where production data is already available within the CPU module, information can be visualised without extensive integration work or significant modifications to existing PLC programs. This makes the solution suitable for both mixed-vendor and brownfield manufacturing environments.
The application has been designed to support a phased approach to implementation. Manufacturers can begin by monitoring a single machine or production line before expanding the same approach across wider operations, allowing projects to demonstrate value before scaling.
Commenting on the launch, Daniel Sperlich, Strategic Product Manager Controllers EMEA at Mitsubishi Electric, said:
"Many manufacturers already have access to the data they need, but turning that data into something practical and actionable on the shopfloor remains a challenge.
"DataNavigateApp can help lower the barrier to production analytics. It gives manufacturers a practical way to improve visibility of machine performance, helping teams identify opportunities to improve output stability, reduce downtime, better understand energy behaviour and reduce operating costs, without needing large-scale software projects or specialist programming expertise. Just as importantly, manufacturers can start small, prove value quickly and then scale at their own pace."
The platform helps manufacturers address a range of common production challenges, including output instability, unplanned downtime, rising energy consumption and performance degradation. By visualising equipment operating status and operational trends, identifying factors affecting operating time, highlighting wasted power consumption and supporting predictive maintenance initiatives, the solution enables teams to prioritise improvements more effectively and respond more quickly to emerging issues.
Designed to operate alongside existing equipment using standard PLC communication functions, DataNavigateApp can be deployed across mixed-vendor and brownfield environments with minimal disruption to ongoing operations.
Information is presented through intuitive graphical dashboards, enabling users to compare operational data across different time periods, machines and production conditions. By helping teams identify trends, prioritise improvement opportunities and react more quickly to operational issues, the solution supports faster decision-making, clearer operational priorities and measurable improvements in machine performance.
https://europe.mitsubishielectric.com/en/
