Automation platform integrates manufacturing

An 'intelligent' automation platform achieves simple, effective integration of plant and business functions, from the shop floor to corporate commercial systems, and without IT specialists.

Mitsubishi Electric Automation Systems' iQ Platform builds on the power of Mitsubishi's Qn series programmable automation controller (PAC) with a range of control modules that interface directly with business information systems to deliver true 'top-to-bottom' plant and enterprise control.

The iQ Platform achieves simple, effective integration of plant and business functions, from the shop floor to corporate commercial systems.

Modular hardware allows control engineers to configure complete systems, without the need to involve IT specialists.

This adaptable and powerful control platform enables companies to take a strategic approach to automation and control, giving full integration of all business functions.

The benefits include greater efficiencies in all aspects of the organisation, leading to cost savings.

The ability to monitor and control automation processes across many different functions allows companies to respond effectively to sales and market trends.

It also helps to improve profits, and reduce waste, rework, maintenance and spares holdings.

The iQ Platform enables open communication between factory equipment and business processes.

It uses common systems, protocols and networks to bring these functions together.

This can be achieved using either a single communications network or alternatively through the integration of existing networks within the organisation.

The iQ Platform strategy revolves around the Qn series of PACs, coupled with powerful extensions and options modules designed to sit at the 'heart' of plant processes.

This enables total integration of control and communications from a single hardware platform.

The control platform is highly scalable, being capable of accommodating anything from just a handful of I/O channels right up to several thousand.

It can monitor or map all channels concurrently, which means that business functions can be integrated more effectively.

Advanced hardware and software tools also deliver comprehensive production data management as part of the iQ Platform strategy.

This provides a revolutionary means of connecting data from the shop floor control systems to the management IT databases feeding the control and reporting systems.

The MES connectivity makes it easy to track, measure and control critical production data and activities, providing information such as increased traceability, productivity and quality improvement.

In devising the strategy for MES connectivity, Mitsubishi has recognised that MES systems vary greatly in scope and scale.

They vary from simple work-in-progress reporting right through to full end-to-end manufacturing control and monitoring.

The iQ Platform is scalable to meet the requirements of all of these approaches.

* IT skills not required - based on industrial PLC design standards, the MES module removes the need for any intermediate PC interface and associated specialist software.

This significantly reduces development costs through ease of installation, as control engineers can integrate data directly into and from the management databases.

The inclusion of the MES module in a system removes the requirement for specialist IT database skills in the integration process.

Critically it simplifies architectures so that development and commissioning cost savings are realised.

With the iQ Platform, Mitsubishi has delivered an intelligent automation strategy which enables simple integration of the world's most advanced shop floor automation controllers with powerful management reporting and execution systems.

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