The diagram shows a typical scheme for e-F@ctory which can be implemented and adapted as per the requirements of the End-User for varied industry verticals.
To survive global competition, further shop-floor improvement and optimization is very essential. In today's day and age, end-to-end connectivity and digitally integrated enterprise initiatives are indispensable issues for manufacturing industries. Recognizing these two needs, Mitsubishi Electric has merged the e-F@ctory concept for optimising factory operations through ‘visualization' and ‘eco-Factory' technologies that contribute to energy conservation through ‘visible management' of specific energy consumption. The two concepts have been amalgamated to create a new FA energy solution.
e-F@ctory promises enhanced productivity. It makes full use of leading-edge control technologies, information technologies and networking technologies to ‘visualize' production information, including quantitative and qualitative production data and equipment information. It links production equipment to higher manufacturing execution systems to allow production information to be incorporated into production plans and be utilized to ensure quality traceability.
Mitsubishi Electric's experience in developing Automation Solutions for improving ‘Monozukuri' which means the Art of Manufacturing, led to the foundation of the e-F@ctory Alliance, uniting a large number of equipment and service providers in a wide range of sections including electrical and automation engineering, automation and motion control systems, Software, HMIs, SCADA and MES, vision systems, industrial networking and more. The alliance has more than 450 Partners Companies* from around the world working in collaboration with its founder - Mitsubishi Electric, to optimise the Factory Automation Solutions.
At the core of any solution that can be built from this large palette of products is the MELSEC iQ-R and Q-series controllers and the CC-link IE Fieldbus. The controller offers a flexible platform to develop solutions for a wide range of applications including Automotive, Pharmaceuticals, F&B, Water, Tyre etc.
The connectivity is empowered via the CC-Link or CC-Link-IE Fieldbus. The latter fieldbus has 1 GB/s bandwidth that has data, control, motion, and safety profiles and can run on either copper or optic fibre. CC-Link is the most widespread fieldbus in Asia with over 2,200 member companies which come under the alliance of CC-Link Partner Association (CLPA). The CC-Link fieldbus uses Seamless Message Protocol (SLMP) that has the particular advantage of providing seamless connection from the sensor level, through the gateway control to the ERP system.
*As on October 2017
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