Fraunhofer IPA says its Smart System Optimisation tool will identify errors in interlinked manufacturing systems and show their root causes. The system uses machine control connectors and external sensors such as smart cameras record relevant process characteristics. Its claimed this analytical tool interprets the data in real time allowing fully automated production systems with short cycle times to be optimised while also enabling automated machine benchmarking of comparable machines.
Data collection and analysis is automated. A high-performance connector is used to access data from the machine controller (PLC) in high frequency. If the PLC-data is not sufficient smart cameras will also record the relevant process characteristics.
