Rockwell Automation has announced the launch of FactoryTalk, an integrated production management and performance suite that bridges the critical gap between the automation and information layers of an enterprise.
Rockwell Automation has announced the launch of FactoryTalk, an integrated production management and performance suite that bridges the critical gap between the automation and information layers of an enterprise.
The company's blend of plant floor controls and information systems experience offers a unique perspective when it comes to understanding where IT and manufacturing meet.
A convergence of new business drivers, the urgency to adhere to emerging industry and government standards and regulations, and the evolution of commercial off-the-shelf information technologies, has resulted in an increased focus on the critical value of information generated from the manufacturing environment.
Today's factories generate incredible amounts of raw data - whether it be the number of parts scrapped during a shift or the amount of ingredients used in the most recent batch process. That data, when put into the proper format and into the appropriate hands, can be turned into useful information to improve manufacturing and business processes. Today's new business realities drive manufacturers to seek out the benefits delivered through control and information integration.
Poor data collection is seen as the major reason why manufacturers' production optimisation efforts failed. By having, and successfully utilising, an integrated solution that links the automation process to other business processes, companies can obtain an holistic view of operations thus enabling them making informed decisions. Plant-wide information software bridges the gap between ERP and plant floor by unleashing the relevant realtime information embedded at the automation layer, and exposing and delivering it to the people and systems that need it. It includes solutions that focus on plant-level planning, execution and analysis - the key to driving sustainable manufacturing performance.
Rockwell Automation and its strategic partners are making the conversion of manufacturing data into valuable business knowledge a much more attractive proposition - one with a wide range of real business benefits. FactoryTalk, used in conjunction with Rockwell Automation Integrated Architecture or with third party OPC compliant control systems, can help manufacturers drive costs out of production, improve regulatory compliance and respond more quickly to changing market demands.
Various aspects need to be considered such as capturing and using the data, integrating the factory floor with ERP systems, compliance as a new business imperative, realtime information on-demand, and using automation to innovate.
Working in concert with the staff complement, a company's automation and information technology partners can lend incredible amounts of insight into the best strategies for integrated automation solutions. If they are truly enlightened about the value of manufacturing information and its role in driving business value, it is likely they have seen situations similar to yours, and can help your efforts run more smoothly. Rockwell Automation is helping organisations understand the benefits of integrated control and information, including implementation of tracking and tracing applications to help prepare for new regulations like TREAD and 21 CFR Part 11, designing asset tracking and management solutions to reduce costs and increase return on investment (ROI), or deploying manufacturing execution systems (MES) for creating the critical links between manufacturing and the supply chain.
FactoryTalk provides executives with a realtime, knowledge-based decision support system by addressing the production disciplines common to most manufacturing enterprises. The FactoryTalk scalable, modular and standards-based production performance software applications are designed for tight integration with the Rockwell Automation Logix control platform, as well as extensive connectivity to third-party and legacy systems. FactoryTalk applications run on the FactoryTalk service-oriented architecture (SOA) - a common set of software services that includes security, diagnostics, auditing, data model, licensing, realtime data, historical data, configuration, and alarms and events.
The FactoryTalk suite consists of multiple production disciplines corresponding with common manufacturing activities that require integration of plant-floor data with business systems. FactoryTalk production disciplines, whether used individually or in combination with each other, leverage the knowledge-based infrastructure inherent in the FactoryTalk SOA for more efficient data sharing, easier integration and faster start-up. Each production discipline within the suite delivers distinct business benefits:
* Performance and visibility provides a window into the process by incorporating the creation of performance metrics, as well as the situational display of manufacturing information at the machine, line, plant and enterprise level. Reporting and analysis tools, operator interfaces and management dashboards deliver contextual, localised, role-based information for better decision-making.
* Production management addresses order sequencing and execution, tracking and genealogy, and interactive manufacturing process control. By synchronising actionable realtime information across manufacturing methods, materials, manpower and machines, companies can improve coordination of multiple production processes - regardless of location.
* Asset management improves overall security, intelligence and predictability related to plant resources. Monitoring and auditing equipment or network health, as well as overall resource availability creates a foundation for optimising maintenance and plant operations.
* Quality and compliance helps companies adhere to established standards and specifications related to the execution of operational processes and procedures. An automated, proactive environment improves first-pass quality and product consistency, and simplifies the regulatory reporting process.
* Data management provides tools and methods to enable integration and workflow across disparate systems, as well as storage of master data, events, and process and production information. It creates a foundation for contextual information by organising, synchronising, archiving and aggregating data collected by automated or manual systems.
* Design and configuration provides integrated environments for creating and modelling production processes, programming automation controls, as well as tools to set up equipment, order and product definitions. This integrated approach streamlines the overall planning, development and deployment processes resulting in faster, lower-cost implementations.
Individually, an information-enabled control architecture and an automation-enabled suite of plant-wide information software bring significant benefits to any manufacturing organisation, but premier integration between the two delivers a host of additional benefits in terms of scope of delivery, scalability and realtime information access.
* Scope of delivery - the Logix control platform offers the capability to execute discrete, batch, process, motion and safety control from a common platform. The FactoryTalk production disciplines bring visualisation, design, configuration and management of performance, production, quality and assets from within a single FactoryTalk SOA to reduce start-up and training costs, and facilitate more efficient exchange of information.
* Scalability/modularity - the Logix control platform is available through a wide range of controller offerings designed to match individual application needs. FactoryTalk software applications can be implemented as embedded, standalone, plant-wide or multisite solutions. This allows customers to implement precisely the right configuration for their unique needs with flexibility to easily expand.
* Realtime information - the Logix control platform and FactoryTalk integrated production management and performance suite feature premier integration, as well as connectivity to legacy and third-party systems. This helps provide low-cost integration and a more efficient flow of realtime information.
* Faster ROI - a modular approach, coupled with an improved ability to take action on factory floor analysis, eliminates risk and leads to a significantly faster return-on-investment.
Earlier this year, Rockwell Automation announced the release of its OPC Gateway, a software application that increases the connectivity options for Rockwell Automation customers. The Gateway helps non-Rockwell Automation OPC clients, such as human-machine interface (HMI) and manufacturing execution systems (MES) software, to communicate bi-directionally with applications that use components of the Rockwell Software FactoryTalk platform in both distributed and redundant environments. This provides tight integration and helps manufacturers to build their applications using FactoryTalk services like security, diagnostics and auditing.
The OPC gateway helps non-Rockwell Automation applications communicate with the FactoryTalk world. This will help users who have installed a mix of products from different automation and information-level vendors to exchange realtime data freely, leverage their manufacturing information assets, and improve enterprise-wide interoperability.
As the Rockwell Automation Integrated Architecture has integrated the automation control environment, the Rockwell Automation FactoryTalk platform will integrate the Plant Wide information space. With extensive experience in both the automation control and plant wide information layer, Rockwell Automation is ideally positioned to close the gap between ERP and shopfloor control system.
As Greg Gorbach, ARC vice president of Collaborative Manufacturing, comments: "Rockwell Automation has embarked on a challenging and ambitious course, but there is no doubt it is the right course. Its customers will begin to see some benefits in the short term, with much more to come as the roadmap comes to fruition."
For more information contact Rudolf Van Wyk, Rockwell Automation South Africa and Middle East, +27 (0) 11 654 9700, [email protected]
| Tel: | +27 11 654 9700 |
| Email: | [email protected] |
| www: | www.rockwellautomation.co.za |
| Articles: | More information and articles about Rockwell Automation |
© Technews Publishing (Pty) Ltd | All Rights Reserved
printer friendly version