Vol.1 CC-Link and CC-Link IE The Most Widely-Used Networks in Asia
Special Report
Review of FPD International China 2012/Beijing Summit
Mitsubishi Electric
New FA Concept for TCO Reduction Introduced
"CC-Link/CC-Link IE" Reinforces Linkage between Information Systems and Production Sites
Mitsubishi Electric described a new FA system concept "e&eco-F@ctory" in the technical sessions of FPD International China 2012/Beijing Summit. The goal of e&eco-F@ctory is an effective production system which is established by building a system with seamless horizontal and vertical linkages. These allow coverage of an entire factory, as well as connection of production sites to information systems. The enabling technologies for the concept are the industrial open networks "CC-Link" and "CC-Link IE".
Mr. Hideaki Morita, Senior Manager of Mitsubishi's FA System Department, gave the overview of the concept. He began by briefly introducing the position of Mitsubishi Electric in the FA (factory automation) field. Mitsubishi Electric has wide business interests - from private businesses to the space industry. Among the various business fields, Mitsubishi Electric has an especially strong presence in the FA field. "Mitsubishi Electric's FA-related products are highly valued, and command 15% of the world market", he said.
Another important role of Mitsubishi Electric in the FA field is as a leading developer of CC-Link and CC-Link IE, which are global standards for industrial open networks. "Among many standards for industrial open networks, CC-Link has a high market share, especially in Asia. This success is being continued by CC-Link IE, which uses the physical layer of Gigabit Ethernet", he continued.
Solving both "company" and "social" problems
Mitsubishi Electric's "e&eco-F@ctory", is a new-generation FA system concept that is supported by their various FA devices and the technology of CC-Link and CC-Link IE. Mr. Morita reviewed factory problems to provide a background for the invention of e&eco-F@ctory. "Factory problems can be divided into two types. One is the problem of "factories as companies". This is mainly about improvement of "production value", such as productivity, quality and agility. The other is the problem of "factories as society". This problem is about "symbiosis with the environment and society", such as energy saving, reducing the environmental burden, and ensuring traceability. e&eco-F@ctory provides solutions for these two problems simultaneously", he said. In addition, he emphasized that the FA system based on e&eco-F@ctory also contributed to a reduction of TCO (total cost of ownership) in factories.
The basic idea of e&eco-F@ctory is to establish the "vertical (production sites and host system)" linkage and the "horizontal (equipment in factories)" linkage in the relationship between factories and information systems. This can achieve an efficient information environment where the data of production sites can be collected and analyzed promptly and easily. For creation of such an environment, information-related devices and FA products produced by Mitsubishi Electric are available.
MES interface modules and high speed data logger modules, for example, are necessary to establish the "vertical linkage". "Conventionally, to connect the host information system and the FA system, gateway computers were used. Replacing them with our MES interface modules can reduce 70% of the cost for the system construction", he commented.
Various controllers, HMIs, engineering software, and networks using CC-Link and CC-Link IE technologies provided by Mitsubishi Electric can contribute to establishing the "horizontal linkage". "The network especially plays an essential role. It is like the nervous system of e&eco-F@ctory. CC-Link or CC-Link IE can connect an information system, factory controllers and devices, and sensors for monitoring the production process seamlessly to establish an optimal network according to the purpose or the application", he concluded.
Products and solutions related to e&eco-F@ctory were introduced at the booth of Mitsubishi Electric, which was further supported by the speeches.
Mr. Hideaki MoritaMitsubishi Electric
FA System Department
Senior Manager
- CC-Link Partner Association (CLPA)
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