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Tuesday, May 18, 2010

Know About Automation Tools In Manufacturing

Different types of tools are required for making a system automated, so that the system becomes more reliable and gives more output. Production rate goes on increasing day by day by using these automated tools. The different types of automated tools are :

Simulation: It is an attempt to model a real-life situation on a system so that it can be studied to see how the system works by changing variables. Manufacturing is one of the important applications of simulation. Another important goal of manufacturing-simulations is to maintain system performance. Simulation can be used for finding out the performance of an existing or planned system and to compare solutions for a particular design’s problem.

DCS - Distributed Control System: A distributed control system refers to a control system usually a manufacturing system or a process in which the controller elements are not in centre but are distributed throughout the system with each component’s sub-system controlled by one or more controllers. The entire system of controllers is being connected by using networks for communication and monitoring. A DCS is a system, which is used to monitor the manufacturing processes which are continuous and are batch production systems such as petro chemicals, oil refineries etc. DCS are usually connected to sensors and actuators and they use a set point controller to control the flow of the materials or the products, it is one of the major automation tool which is used for automation.

PLC - Programmable Logic Controller: A programmable logic controller or programmable controller is usually a digital control, which controls the digital data and is normally used for automation of electro mechanical processes, such as control of machinery on factory assembly lines, amusement rides, or lighting fixtures. PLCs are used in many industries and machines. The functionalities of the PLCs include sequential relay control, process control, motion control and networking.

PAC - Programmable automation controller: It is also a controller which is used for making a system to be automated. These controllers are used for data acquisition, process control and even the motion control of any device.

ANN - Artificial neural network: Although computing these days is truly advanced, there are certain tasks which cannot be done by them .An artificial neural network (ANN), usually called "neural network" (NN), is a mathematical model or computational model that is simulating the structure and/or functional aspects of biological neural networks. It is used mostly in robot automation.

HMI - Human Machine Interface: The Human-Machine Interface is the meeting of the human and the machine. It is the area of the human and the area of the machine that interact during a given task .Generally, the goal of human machine interaction is to produce the user a interface which makes it easy, efficient to operate a machine in the way which produces the desired result. It is a system by which the people can interact with the machine. It is one of the important tool that makes the machine gets related to manual instructions and the machine gets automated easily.

SCADA - Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition: It generally refers to an industrial control system or a computer system monitoring and controlling a process. Industrial processes include manufacturing; power generating, refining etc. A human machine interface and the SCADA system interface are interlinked usually. It is one of the important tool which is used for making a system to be automated. Generally it is used in power generation.

MES - Manufacturing Execution System: Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES) are information technology systems that manage production in factories. They are used most effectively in automated systems.


LIMS - Laboratory Information Management System: A Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) is software which is used in laboratories for the management of samples, laboratory users, instruments, standards and other laboratory functions such as invoicing, plate management, and workflow automation. It is mostly used in work flow automation.

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