A Web-based Integration Module for Manufacturing Automation: Procedure and Analysis

The top problems faced by manufacturing enterprises to implement system integration solutions are: confusing solutions and terminology, the lack of understanding of cross-domain technologies, and the lack of business justification [1]. The purpose of this study is to provide a generalized solution in implementing manufacturing enterprise-control system integration. The solution is composed of three components, a LabVIEW-based data collector, a system server, and a web-based interface. The data collector is constructed as an open source system module for data collection from LabVIEW-based control applications. It can be integrated into LabVIEW control systems seamlessly. The web interface and database in the module is designed by using the terminology and methodologies from the Generalized Enterprise Reference Architecture and Methodology (GERAM) and ISA S95, a standard published by the Instrumentation, Systems, and Automation Society (ISA) to define the enterprise-control system integration. To evaluate the efficiency of the data collector, a queuing network model is established to analyze the effect of system change. A statistical method, one-way ANOVA, is applied on the data. The test result indicates that the data collector will not affect the performance of the existing system, the system server. The process and the result demonstrate the importance of applying cross-discipline technologies and skills in the innovation of manufacturing systems. I. Introduction In today’s new manufacturing environment, manufacturing enterprises are facing rapidly changing situations. To be competitive, enterprises must adapt to changes and evolve to be reactive so that changes become natural dynamic states rather than something forced onto the enterprise [2]. This evolution requirement necessitates the need for enterprise integration with an increasing emphasis on agility. The Manufacturing Engineering Laboratory (MEL) of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), defines enterprise integration as providing the right information, at the right place, at the right time, and updating the information in real time to reflect the actual state of the enterprise operation [1]. The purpose of enterprise integration is to be a tool for the enterprise operation supporting day-to-day decision making across the entire operation. This tool links decision makers on all organizational levels to