IIC Journal of Innovation 5th Edition | Page 15

Device Ecosystem at the Edge – Manufacturing Scenario- Asset condition monitoring Edge Workflow

This is an often neglected area. But for continued and sustained usage of the system in the long term, it is absolutely essential that the usage is integrated into shop floor standard operating procedure( SOP). For this, a smart manufacturing system has to understand shop floor workflow and sync with it.

This necessitates incorporation of multiple behavior models for the above data model. Each behavior model defines behavior of each device type, their interactions with each other and with people.

The data model may expand due to further specialization within a device type based on its behavior: For example, specialization of Production Devices into bulk production and tool room machines.

Furthermore, a Workflow Modeler is needed to model interactions. This is comprised of a rule engine and a set of predefined or custom actions. The Workflow Modeler will manage production schedule, interlocks to control operations flow and user actions, triggers to initiate systemic and extra-systemic messaging, etc. It allows the IIoT system to take contextual decisions in real-time and exercise a required degree of control over the devices, people and their interactions.

Implementation of the workflow modeler will be done in platform tier( cloud / onpremises) or Edge or, most likely, in combination.

Let us look at a specific use case from discrete manufacturing.

Manufacturing Use Case

A factory manufacturing auto components has the following devices( only devices relevant to our discussion are listed):

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