IoT-enabled energy efficiency monitoring and analysis method for energy saving in sheet metal forming workshop

Sheet metal forming, as a typical energy-intensive process, consumes massive energy. Due to the significant difference between sheet metal forming and machining, manufacturers still lack an effective method to monitor and analyze the energy efficiency in the sheet metal forming workshop. To this end, an energy efficiency monitoring and analysis (EEMA) method, which is supported by Internet of Things (IoT), is proposed. The characteristics in a forming workshop are first analyzed, and then the architecture of the method is expatiated-detailedly. Energy efficiency indicators at machine level, process level, and workshop level are defined, respectively. Finally, a sheet metal forming workshop for the deformation of panels of forklift was investigated to validate the effectiveness and benefits of the proposed method. With the application of the IoT-enabled method, various energy-saving decisions can be made by the management of the enterprises for energy efficiency improvement and energy consumption reduction (EEIECR) in the sheet metal forming workshop.