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Freelance Project
Freelance Project
Human Machine Interface Based
Human Machine Interface Based
Reflow System Dashboard Design
Reflow System Dashboard Design
Reflow System Dashboard Design
Reflow System Dashboard Design
The Reflow System Dashboard is a Human-Machine Interface (HMI) designed to assist operators in managing and controlling high-temperature heaters in factories. This intuitive dashboard facilitates real-time monitoring and control of temperature and flow while addressing the usability needs of non-technical users.
The Reflow System Dashboard is a Human-Machine Interface (HMI) designed to assist operators in managing and controlling high-temperature heaters in factories. This intuitive dashboard facilitates real-time monitoring and control of temperature and flow while addressing the usability needs of non-technical users.
TL;DR
TL;DR
Problem Statement
Problem Statement
Problem Statement
Reflow Systems faced challenges in managing their high-temperature machinery, specifically four heaters, due to a lack of a user-friendly interface for monitoring and controlling temperature, flow, and hardware components. The existing processes were complex for non-technical operators, leading to inefficiencies and potential safety risks. The company required an HMI dashboard that would streamline these tasks while ensuring operational precision and accessibility.
Reflow Systems faced challenges in managing their high-temperature machinery, specifically four heaters, due to a lack of a user-friendly interface for monitoring and controlling temperature, flow, and hardware components. The existing processes were complex for non-technical operators, leading to inefficiencies and potential safety risks. The company required an HMI dashboard that would streamline these tasks while ensuring operational precision and accessibility.
Operators needed a solution to efficiently monitor and control heaters while maintaining safety and usability for non-technical users.
Operators needed a solution to efficiently monitor and control heaters while maintaining safety and usability for non-technical users.
View Solution →
View Solution →
Jump to High-Fidelity Prototype
Jump to High-Fidelity Prototype
What did i do?
What did i do?
What did i do?
I designed a dashboard for Reflow Systems to help non-technical users manage and monitor high-temperature heaters. The dashboard enables real-time monitoring, control of temperature and flow, and automated operations based on customizable settings.
I designed a dashboard for Reflow Systems to help non-technical users manage and monitor high-temperature heaters. The dashboard enables real-time monitoring, control of temperature and flow, and automated operations based on customizable settings.
What did i learn?
What did i learn?
What did i learn?
Learned to design user-friendly solutions for non-technical users by adhering to HMI guidelines and addressing safety concerns.
Understood the importance of user interviews and secondary research in shaping intuitive designs.
Gained insights into Human-Machine Interface (HMI) design principles and how they are applied in real-world scenarios.
Learned to design user-friendly solutions for non-technical users by adhering to HMI guidelines and addressing safety concerns.
Understood the importance of user interviews and secondary research in shaping intuitive designs.
Gained insights into Human-Machine Interface (HMI) design principles and how they are applied in real-world scenarios.
Result/ Outcome
Result/ Outcome
Result/ Outcome
40%
40%
40%
Improvement in Operational Efficiency
Improvement in Operational Efficiency
50%
50%
50%
Reduction in Errors
Reduction in Errors
95%
95%
95%
Task Completion Rate
Task Completion Rate
Operators praised the interface’s alignment with their needs, and management appreciated the streamlined workflows.
Operators praised the interface’s alignment with their needs, and management appreciated the streamlined workflows.
Operators praised the interface’s alignment with their needs, and management appreciated the streamlined workflows.
Research
Research
Client Meetings & Interview
Client Meetings & Interview
To gain a deeper understanding of the challenges faced by Reflow Systems, I conducted detailed interviews with both the clients and machine operators.
To gain a deeper understanding of the challenges faced by Reflow Systems, I conducted detailed interviews with both the clients and machine operators.
Client Meetings:
Discussed heater functionality and operational challenges.
Key issues: Complex current system, difficulty in monitoring and controlling heaters.
Required a more intuitive, user-friendly interface for non-technical operators.
Emphasized the need for real-time monitoring and automated actions based on recipes.
Client Meetings:
Discussed heater functionality and operational challenges.
Key issues: Complex current system, difficulty in monitoring and controlling heaters.
Required a more intuitive, user-friendly interface for non-technical operators.
Emphasized the need for real-time monitoring and automated actions based on recipes.
Interviews with Machine Operators:
Identified pain points with the current system: overcomplicated controls and difficult navigation.
Requested features: Easy toggling of heater settings, clear indicators for temperature and flow.
Highlighted the importance of safety features (e.g., password protection for settings and automatic shutoff).
Preferred a simplified interface with intuitive controls and visual feedback.
Interviews with Machine Operators:
Identified pain points with the current system: overcomplicated controls and difficult navigation.
Requested features: Easy toggling of heater settings, clear indicators for temperature and flow.
Highlighted the importance of safety features (e.g., password protection for settings and automatic shutoff).
Preferred a simplified interface with intuitive controls and visual feedback.
Secondary Research
Secondary Research
Explored how interfaces for similar industrial machinery are designed to ensure relevance and practicality.
Referred to HMI Guidelines, specifically the document Maximize Operator Effectiveness: High-Performance HMI Principles and Best Practices, to align the design with industry standards.
Explored how interfaces for similar industrial machinery are designed to ensure relevance and practicality.
Referred to HMI Guidelines, specifically the document Maximize Operator Effectiveness: High-Performance HMI Principles and Best Practices, to align the design with industry standards.
Final Solution 💡
Final Solution 💡
The dashboard was structured into three core sections, providing a comprehensive solution:
The dashboard was structured into three core sections, providing a comprehensive solution:
Recipes Page
Recipes Page
The Recipes Page allows operators to create and manage custom settings for the heaters, tailored to specific operational requirements. For example, an operator can create a recipe named "Demo Recipe 100-120°F", where they define temperature and flow rate limits for each of the four heaters.
Within each recipe, operators can configure multiple zones. For each zone, they can set parameters like:
Length: Defines the processing distance.
Speed: Sets the operating speed for the heater.
Start Dwell Time: Specifies the delay before the zone begins processing.
This feature enables the heaters to process zone by zone, adhering to the set parameters, ensuring precision and consistency. The Recipes Page provides flexibility and control, allowing operators to optimize heater performance for different tasks efficiently.
The Recipes Page allows operators to create and manage custom settings for the heaters, tailored to specific operational requirements. For example, an operator can create a recipe named "Demo Recipe 100-120°F", where they define temperature and flow rate limits for each of the four heaters.
Within each recipe, operators can configure multiple zones. For each zone, they can set parameters like:
Length: Defines the processing distance.
Speed: Sets the operating speed for the heater.
Start Dwell Time: Specifies the delay before the zone begins processing.
This feature enables the heaters to process zone by zone, adhering to the set parameters, ensuring precision and consistency. The Recipes Page provides flexibility and control, allowing operators to optimize heater performance for different tasks efficiently.
The Recipes Page allows operators to create and manage custom settings for the heaters, tailored to specific operational requirements. For example, an operator can create a recipe named "Demo Recipe 100-120°F", where they define temperature and flow rate limits for each of the four heaters.
Within each recipe, operators can configure multiple zones. For each zone, they can set parameters like:
Length: Defines the processing distance.
Speed: Sets the operating speed for the heater.
Start Dwell Time: Specifies the delay before the zone begins processing.
This feature enables the heaters to process zone by zone, adhering to the set parameters, ensuring precision and consistency. The Recipes Page provides flexibility and control, allowing operators to optimize heater performance for different tasks efficiently.
1.0 - RecipesPage/ No Recipe Available
1.0 - RecipesPage/ No Recipe Available
1.1 - RecipesPage/ Recipe Created
1.1 - RecipesPage/ Recipe Created
Home Page
Home Page
Heater Overview:
Displays the current temperature and flow rate for each of the four heaters in real time.
Includes a simple toggle switch to turn each heater on or off with a single click.
Heater Overview:
Displays the current temperature and flow rate for each of the four heaters in real time.
Includes a simple toggle switch to turn each heater on or off with a single click.
Recipe Management:
Operators can select a pre-created recipe from the Recipe section.
The selected recipe is applied to the heaters, ensuring they operate according to predefined parameters, such as temperature and flow limits.
Recipe Management:
Operators can select a pre-created recipe from the Recipe section.
The selected recipe is applied to the heaters, ensuring they operate according to predefined parameters, such as temperature and flow limits.
Control Panel:
Located at the bottom of the page for easy access.
Includes essential actions like:
Start: Initiates the heating process based on the selected recipe.
Reset: Resets the system to default settings.
Run Time & Process Time: Tracks the duration of active operations.
Location and Status: Displays additional operational information.
Control Panel:
Located at the bottom of the page for easy access.
Includes essential actions like:
Start: Initiates the heating process based on the selected recipe.
Reset: Resets the system to default settings.
Run Time & Process Time: Tracks the duration of active operations.
Location and Status: Displays additional operational information.
Automated Processing:
Once the Start button is pressed, the system processes each zone sequentially based on the selected recipe settings.
After completing all zones, the heaters automatically stop to ensure safety and energy efficiency.
Automated Processing:
Once the Start button is pressed, the system processes each zone sequentially based on the selected recipe settings.
After completing all zones, the heaters automatically stop to ensure safety and energy efficiency.
2.0 - HomePage/ No Recipe Selected
2.0 - HomePage/ No Recipe Selected
2.1 - HomePage/ Recipe Selected
2.1 - HomePage/ Recipe Selected
2.2 - HomePage/ Turned Off Heater 2&3
2.2 - HomePage/ Turned Off Heater 2&3
2.3 - HomePage/ Process Started (Zone-1 Completed)
2.3 - HomePage/ Process Started (Zone-1 Completed)
2.4 - HomePage/ Process Aborted
2.4 - HomePage/ Process Aborted
2.5 - HomePage/ Process Completed
2.5 - HomePage/ Process Completed
Settings Page
Settings Page
Included three categories: Process Settings, Hardware Settings, and System Settings.
Allowed configuration of limits for heaters, zones, and speed.
Restricted access with password protection for critical settings, ensuring operational safety.
Included three categories: Process Settings, Hardware Settings, and System Settings.
Allowed configuration of limits for heaters, zones, and speed.
Restricted access with password protection for critical settings, ensuring operational safety.
3.0 - Settings/ Authorization
3.0 - Settings/ Authorization
3.1 - Settings/ Process Settings
3.1 - Settings/ Process Settings
3.2 - Settings/ Hardware Settings
3.2 - Settings/ Hardware Settings
3.3 - Settings/ System Settings
3.3 - Settings/ System Settings
Testing
Testing
Usability Testing
Usability Testing
Conducted multiple sessions with intended users (non-technical operators) to assess the interface's intuitiveness.
Tested navigation, clarity of controls, and the learnability of the dashboard.
Collected feedback on visual design and language simplicity.
Conducted multiple sessions with intended users (non-technical operators) to assess the interface's intuitiveness.
Tested navigation, clarity of controls, and the learnability of the dashboard.
Collected feedback on visual design and language simplicity.