New process software integrates control, communications and information technology with productivity enhanced tools
April 2000
SCADA/HMI
PLC Direct
Think & Do Software has released "Think & Do Live!", an e-control product that integrates control, communications and information technologies with productivity enhancement tools. The software enables process engineers, production supervisors and plant managers to improve productivity and reduce production variability through built-in monitoring of machine downtime and cycle time. The built-in machine and process monitoring is coupled with automatic generation of actionable information displays to drive productivity improvements.
Think & Do Live supports Microsoft's Windows DNA for Manufacturing on Windows 2000, embedded Windows NT and Windows CE. It can be used as an integrated control, communications and monitoring solution or can be used with legacy control systems to achieve cost-effective monitoring and productivity enhancement.
The software uses its built-in data gathering capabilities to track downtime, machine cycle time and causal data. The data is automatically logged, analysed and displayed in a variety of configurable formats to highlight productivity variances and identify opportunities for improvements. For example, the software can be used for:
* Production bottleneck identification and resolution.
* Productivity improvement opportunity identification.
* Quantitative benchmarking of equipment, processes, shifts and plants.
* Best practice identification.
* New machine optimisation.
* Capacity analysis and justification.
* Manufacturing services supplier qualification.
* Advanced planning and scheduling system inputs.
The package includes full control capability with flowchart logic, human-machine interface (HMI), symbols, PID, motion and I/O configuration/diagnostic tools. The software has integrated OPC 2.0 server and client capabilities for connectivity to legacy controls and other applications.
Think & Do to build in Visio
technology
Think & Do has begun incorporating the Microsoft Visio user interface and drawing engine into its next generation products. Readers may already be familiar with Visio's drawing and charting program which uses object-oriented Smartshapes technology and, in the Technical Edition, contains tools for engineering and manufacturing drawings.
The resulting products built on the Visio platform will allow users, OEMs and integrators to design, document and implement their automation solutions in a unified development environment (UDE). The UDE can speed system development and reduce training requirements by incorporating system design, logic, HMI and project documentation capabilities in a single graphical user interface that is already a design standard for millions of users.
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