Its domain is steadily increasing to include the realtime world of scada and process control. Applications such as MDT Software's MASS AutoSave are enabling the shop floor to benefit from a sound IT infrastructure which includes regular back-ups of scada and PLC software as well as disciplined revision control and releases.
MASS AutoSave is a realtime interactive change management, programmable device support (PDS) software system that provides full documentation, audit trails, security, uploads, downloads, comparisons and archiving. It uses a Windows environment and is fully integrated with program-panel software. MASS AutoSave unites plant automation software under one common user interface that creates a centralised, documented, well-defined, more productive and secure automation program environment.
"Since IT is entering the world of scada and PLCs (soft or traditional), it makes sense that this environment should benefit from the software management principles that are applied to other levels of the company and MDT's MASS AutoSave is designed to do just that," says Mike le Plastrier, MD of Futuristix Advanced Control Systems.
In most plants today, programming changes are made by multiple users on multiple PCs and multiple programs. As a result, there are dozens of disks located throughout the plant, each containing different program versions. Inefficiencies are inevitable, costly and even dangerous. With an increase in programs and a decrease in automation personnel, effectively managing this situation is a growing challenge. MASS AutoSave eases the management burden and helps seize plant-wide control of automation environment.
One of the most important features of this approach is secured program access where only authorised personnel are able to access programs and to make changes. Access is controlled via user logins and passwords and via a transparent filter that screens privileges according to the class of the user (eg maintenance, engineering, supervisor, etc). The plant can be divided into areas such as manufacturing, raw materials, finishing, etc where devices such as PLCs are assigned to each area. Privileges are designated by area and/or by device for each user class. For example, plant engineers may have the privilege to edit logic and documentation, but only the supervisor has the privilege to update the master copy. Unauthorised changes are minimised, greatly reducing costly errors. In addition, because the only functions displayed on screen are those for which the user has assigned privileges, training time is significantly reduced.
Another feature is the ability to generate full audit trail reports where industry and risk management requirements for archiving data are supported. Every step of the programming change process is documented and validated and a detailed history of each version is maintained by the system. A Revision History Page lists the date and time of changes to the program logic or documentation, the source of each change (programme compare update, logic edit, upload, etc), who made the change and user comments. Activity logs track any or all transactions relating to device programs, such as edit session comparisons or printouts. Problem prevention reports include selected data table or forced table comparison, data highway station listing, data highway inventory and quick disaster recovery.
"MASS AutoSave supports virtually all brands and types of PLCs, robots, HMIs and any other intelligent device," says le Plastrier. "The number of PLCs, soft PLCs, PCs, drives, vision systems, smart transmitters, robots and HMIs in use in any manufacturing company on a daily basis can be staggering. If one also considers that the livelihood of the company is totally dependent not only on the continued hardware performance of these devices but, more importantly, on their control software, it is no wonder that production management is moving towards a more controlled software management environment. Over 4000 end-users world-wide are already benefiting from the extra discipline and control provided by MASS AutoSave which is helping them reduce costly errors, raise profitability and security as well as dramatically increase operational efficiency."
Mike le Plastrier, Futuristix
011 723 9900
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