A Generic Control Architecture For Web Based Manufacturing

This paper presents the design and development of a generic control architecture that enables over-the-Internet access to automated manufacturing equipment. The architecture has been developed through a series of projects that have been conducted at the Integrated Systems Facility (ISF) in the Engineering Management Department at the University of Missouri – Rolla. The projects include Web-based applications for materials management, product design and machining, robot programming, and programmable logic control programming. For each application, a prototype has been developed and implemented in the course Emgt 334 Computer Integrated Manufacturing Systems as an E-Lab Suite for various laboratory applications. The concept presented in this paper offers a great potential for manufacturing industry by providing a means of remote monitoring, controlling, and diagnosing manufacturing systems located at different geographic locations, as well as real time data collection and analysis. Webbased manufacturing concept also provides several advantages to institutions offering distance education courses in the areas of automation and manufacturing systems. It facilitates the learning process over the Internet via a suite of Web browser based user interfaces that are linked to a physical manufacturing laboratory environment.