Applying Internet Technology to Production Environment

Monitoring

Alberto TafurManufacturing Solutions ManagerUnifi Technology GroupCharlotte, NC

Jeff FlemingProject ManagerUnifi Technology GroupCharlotte, NC

John B. WeberPresidentSoftware ToolboxCharlotte, NC

Applying Internet Technology to Production Environment Monitoring

The Problems

•Desired Data Distributed Among Diverse Systems •Monitoring Interfaces Differ Based on Data Source•No Common System-Wide Monitoring Interface

Applying Internet Technology to Production Environment Monitoring

Classic 2-Tier Manufacturing Application

Serial Communications

Ethernet

Production ApplicationPLC

Viewer Node(Fat Client)

Applying Internet Technology to Production Environment Monitoring

Classic 2-Tier Business Applications

Viewer Node(Fat Client)

Site Database

Business Server

Ethernet

Hubs

Applying Internet Technology to Production Environment Monitoring

3-Tier Manufacturing to Business Solution

Thin-Clients

Apple

UNIX

WEB Application Server

PLC

Enterprise

Hub

Hub

Router

Site Server

POT

Remote User

InternetInternet

Applying Internet Technology to Production Environment Monitoring

The Solution Levels

ProductionEnvironment

Plant-CentricDatabase

WebApplication

CorporateDatabase

Applying Internet Technology to Production Environment Monitoring

Interface Requirements

•Transparent•Portable•Flexible•Simple

Applying Internet Technology to Production Environment Monitoring

Transparent

•Different sources appear identical•Independent of internal architecture

Applying Internet Technology to Production Environment Monitoring

Portable

•Platform Independent•Scale Independent•Globally Accessible

Applying Internet Technology to Production Environment Monitoring

Flexible

•Easily rearranged•Easily modified

Applying Internet Technology to Production Environment Monitoring

Simple

•Easy to configure•Easy to understand•Easy to maintain

Applying Internet Technology to Production Environment Monitoring

Enabling Technologies

•ActiveX Objects•COM•Visual Basic

Applying Internet Technology to Production Environment Monitoring

The Interface

Applying Internet Technology to Production Environment Monitoring

The Interface

Applying Internet Technology to Production Environment Monitoring

The Interface

Applying Internet Technology to Production Environment Monitoring

The Interface

Applying Internet Technology to Production Environment Monitoring

Applying Internet Technology to Production Environment Monitoring

The Interface

Applying Internet Technology to Production Environment Monitoring

Applying Internet Technology to Production Environment Monitoring

Applying Internet Technology to Production Environment Monitoring

Applying Internet Technology to Production Environment Monitoring

Web Browser Interface Provides

•A familiar, intuitive, common “window” into monitoring plant floor activities•User access control•System security•Platform independence

Applying Internet Technology to Production Environment Monitoring

Conclusions

Object technologies enable effective information sharing between factory floor and business systems

Applying Internet Technology to Production Environment Monitoring

Conclusions

Internet/Intranet technologies enable development of solutions that are :

•Transparent•Portable•Flexible•Simple

Applying Internet Technology to Production Environment Monitoring

Conclusions

Industry Standard Based Interfaces:

•Are easy to learn•Are easy to maintain•Help reduce TCO