FA Solutions and Remote Control with IoT
IoT technology has become a major turning point, making both work and daily life more convenient by removing the constraints of travel and fixed working hours, so that work can be carried out anywhere and at any time. That raises a question worth answering: if the manufacturing industry adopts IoT solutions, how far can the limits on production control work be pushed?
Mitsubishi Electric develops IoT solutions together with its Partners in the e-F@ctory Alliance project. The challenge lay in developing control for complex machinery and equipment — from the operating systems through to the connectivity networks — capable of complete operational control, equivalent to controlling the line from the production floor itself. The result is the FA Remote group of solutions.
FA Remote Solutions: Complete Remote Operational Control
FA Remote is a solution for industry that enables fully remote working, equivalent to controlling operations from the actual workplace or production line. It consists of the following components:
1. Remote Monitoring
Enables plant KPIs and other data to be monitored at all times● Remote control of HMI (GOT) devices
● Remote data collection and visualization of operations within the production area
2. Remote Maintenance
Helps resolve problems immediately, without needing to travel to the actual site- Remote operational control of PLCs, camera equipment and more
3. Remote Development
Enables work from anywhere, including coordination with other departments, with full visibility of operations and detail on the actual production floor- Manage the production area for collaborative work with other departments
4. Remote Service
Enables an organization's technical experts to respond immediately when staff encounter equipment problems- Operational control functions that make troubleshooting straightforward for experts
- Security functions for remote equipment management
Control System Software by e-F@ctory Alliance
IoT solutions are built from software and equipment supplied by Mitsubishi Electric and its alliance partners, which together realize the full potential of FA Remote solutions and cover every aspect of industrial operation — from monitoring, maintenance and service through to remote development. All systems work together and feed data through to Cloud Computing. There are five software products in total:
1. GENESIS64 — remote monitoring software that lets industrial operations manage KPIs centrally
2. FACTORIUM — a partner CMMS application that builds a computerized support system for plant machinery repair and maintenance activities
3. GOT Mobile — application software that enables remote monitoring of production line status in real time via a smart device, with data linked to the GOT2000 series HMI
4. GX Works3 — remote maintenance software for equipment on the shop floor, used together with the HMS Industrial Remote Access Gateway, MELSEC iQ-R and other devices
5. Remote Expert — a software system that allows technical experts to respond the moment a problem occurs
Features of FA Remote Solutions
1. Real-time confirmation of production line status
2. Visibility of plant operating status and quality at any time, from anywhere
3. Real-time problem detection, including advance prediction
4. Monitoring of plant KPIs across every site in the production network
5. Collection of data on connections and equipment across the production area
