Authored By:
Michael Ford, Aegis Industrial Software
Horsham, PA
Summary
The Connected Factory Exchange (CFX) standard is now a year old. During this time, many applications of CFX have been discussed, and projects started that focus on CFX related values that support the changing business model of manufacturing. In this paper, two diverse examples are discussed, illustrating how the adoption of CFX is the critical factor in the achievement of each result.
Conclusions
These two case studies are amongst many applications that may not be new as ideas in themselves, but are now completely viable with the creation of the CFX IIoT technology, the use of an IIoT-based MES solution and the creation of AI-based analytic systems. It is essential that throughout the journey to the Cognitive Smart Enterprise, that decisions are made as to which technologies and solutions to adopt, step by step, that result in immediate benefit, but also contribute as an overall step toward the ultimate Smart factory goals, such that no opportunity is excluded along the way.
These case studies, along with many others for which discussion in the industry has started, show that there are rapidly increasing benefits to be obtained from data the further towards the goal of level 5 cognitive factory you are. Journeys with other technologies can lead to very high unnecessary costs, that do yield value temporarily, but which ultimately lead to escalating costs in a scenario where additional benefits cannot be achieved. It is essential that decisions around the adoption of Smart factory technologies are understood in terms of both short-term gain, and future interoperability with additional functions and solutions.
Initially Published in the SMTA Proceedings
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