Adopting the right technology provides greater transparency, higher productivity and better process management. Users are more able to move forward and adapt to the new manufacturing landscape. The secret is to pinpoint the technologies that futureproof factory automation.
In a new white paper, John Browett of CLPA considers why now is the time to invest in tools that will provide the future of factory automation.
Winning the benefits promised by IIoT needs factory automation systems that continue to enrich output. Yet they must also provide the transparency and productivity benefits demanded. Investments need to support automation hardware that will remain in use for up to twenty years.
Ethernet will remain the primary open communication technology to support change. The difference is how we handle communication over the Ethernet in the future. Time-Sensitive Networking (TSN) is a game-changing automation technology ready for adoption.
The case for Time-Sensitive Networking
Sound investments are those with the best rate of return that promise a long operating life to provide the greatest ROI. Clear to most automation specialists is that Time-Sensitive Networking will provide these. TSN is a set of Ethernet sub-standards for the OSI-Layer 2 according to IEEE 802.1.
It improves determinism and reliability in industrial Ethernet-based communications. TSN creates accurate time synchronisation across a network and also traffic prioritisation. Moreover, users can combine many types of traffic on a single network with no loss of performance. It also supports time-critical control-related tasks.
Futureproof manufacturing automation
The result is an open industrial Ethernet infrastructure that permits all types of traffic to coexist. This is regardless of whether it is critical safety or motion control-related data, general control information, video frames from inspection systems, periodic shift logs or even emails. Also, the infrastructure is simpler and thus less costly to design and install. Installations are faster, simpler to manage and easier to maintain.
TSN also removes the need for the physical separation of critical and non-critical networks. In this way, it supports convergence between IT and industrial OT. Furthermore, it improves the transparency of management process information to support quality and output.
To support true open industrial Ethernet, the CLPA developed CC-Link IE with TSN. Its Implementation supports high traffic volumes associated with Industry 4.0 data-driven manufacturing. Users can both optimise their current operations and futureproof them at a stroke.
To find out how your business can better respond to customer demand, download the CLPA white paper.
