Overview
based upon the actual experiences of the authors in the successful design and
implementation of an Internet based remote configuration management system of an Industrial Automation Equipment product. The embedded controls software in the product enables different features & functionality of the product at different price points. Worldwide product sales & distribution required an Internet based configuration management system that is fully integrated with the corporate management information system.
Problem Encountered
The engineers at a leading industrial automation division of the Emerson Electric group of
companies produced a high-tech electro-mechanical manufacturing device. Embedded software was required to operate the equipment and also determined the capabilities of the device and hence its price point. Product marketing envisioned that common equipment hardware could be manufactured and shipped anywhere in the world without any operational capability. Then, by using the remote configuration capability over the Internet, the equipment out of local inventory could be “customized” to customer specification from the factory. This would allow the company to quickly deliver equipment with the desired functionality at entry level pricing and an easy upgrade path. The common hardware platform strategy would simplify the manufacturing process, reduce inventory cost, provide quick delivery out of inventory, and enable an up-to-date log of sales at the factory.
Our Solution
The division partnered again with Cyber Group, an embedded electronics engineering
Services Company, to design and implement the solution. An integrated product management team consisting of all the stakeholders including marketing, manufacturing, engineering and product support was setup at the start of the project and took ownership of the product and the process. A repeatable value-added scenario in which subject matter experts in systems engineering methodology, remote monitoring and control, and embedded computing (Cyber Group) and Emerson domain experts became part of an integrated project team in which each member and stake holder was able to focus on what he or she did best.
This development was primarily a software effort running on established hardware platforms.
After the systems requirements were agreed upon, the solution space was partitioned into a
number of modules, which would have to be developed and/or modified to achieve the desired result. Cyber Group then proceeded to design and deliver a web centric system called the Remote Configuration System (RCS).
Results
Using a cross functional team and following Cyber Group’s Value Engineering Process (VEP) of linking the Software Design to the Requirements we were able to balance issues such as product needs, design time, and risk. This project has been both a process and commercial success.
The experience gained and lessons learned from the design, development and implementation of this project, which is now in production, have been valuable. Cyber Group has continued to develop this technology to achieve connectivity of software-controlled equipment by direct connect, by modem connect, and by LAN/Internet connect using simple hardware interfaces and easy-to-use operator software implementations. This two-way communication technology from a PC to individual equipment or instrument can be used for remote production monitoring, equipment configuration, software upgrade, and equipment diagnostics. This connectivity technology provides graphical user-friendly software interface with full screen display to control and view information either locally or with global access anywhere in the world that the Internet is available.
Related Links
Cyber Group
