The explosion of the Internet has fueled the rise of new
applications that span organizational and geographical boundaries,
enabling new business opportunities such as online banking and e-commerce.
These web applications go far beyond the restrictions inherent in
host/slave, and even client/server architectures.
The next
generation equipment applications have several key requirements:
- Be accessible from anywhere;
- Efficiently use the Web browser for user interfaces;
- Provide direct shared access to equipment without requiring a database;
- Incorporate security to facilitate collaboration between business
partners;
- Enable different parties to provide independent applications;
- Automatically configure to changing equipment.
Equipment
applications will become Web-based, and will connect business partners in
the collective "virtual" enterprise. Equipment won't be treated as an
isolated resource in an enterprise. Rather, equipment will become a fully
accessible resource of the entire business partner network. The entire
enterprise, and business partners will be a connected, integrated and
highly efficient operation.
Potential Web-based Equipment
Applications
Web-based equipment
applications create new opportunities analogous to those that the web has
brought to every aspect of business today.
| Industry |
Business Motivation |
Application |
Description |
| Semiconductor
Example |
Maximizing equipment uptime; minimizing
spare parts costs |
Equipment Service and Maintenance,
e-diagnostics |
Optimizes equipment maintenance by remote
monitoring of equipment usage and notifying the manufacturer by
e-mail just prior to needing a spare part |
| Metal manufacturing |
Provide full service systems |
Automated equipment calibration |
Automatically adjust settings for tube
bending machines using data obtained from separate networked
metrology tool |
| Production |
Flexible, quality manufacturing
throughout a supply chain |
Smart traveler for build-to-order
manufacturing |
Plug electronic traveler with product
information into the network as it moves through the supply chain,
provide instructions to people and equipment, and gather
manufacturing data |
Some other examples of potential Web-based equipment applications include:
- Industrial equipment remote service
- Production control and testing
- Building and facilities management
- Vending machine monitoring
