Factory Automation 1

[hakbak]

Hi,

I have commenced work for a food and beverages company. It consists of 5 different processing plants, within the same site. It has some level of process control but there is no automatic data logging at all. I am proposing a fully integrated Scada and PLC system to have all processes linked and controlled via a network of MMI. Is this the right joice? The head office and processing plants are at different locations.

 

[FrancisL]

This sounds like a major project.

First you need some objectives - why do you want this and what should it do? Is there some ERP in your company that you are hoping to link to the plants? How will it pay off etc.

"all processes linked and controlled " is so vast that it is not realistic. If, for example, you wanted all plants to be able to run the same recipes the implications are massive. (For more, look into the S88.01 concepts of Recipes)
If you just want to get some simple real time data from the plants to see what is going on then it may be easier.

 

[hakbak]

Only one major plant, the rest have a small footprint and are simple in design and control, basically blending juice concentrates to a clients specification.
The aim is to reduce production costs (we hope) and the potential for human errors, which can create unnecessary rework of products.
In the short term we would like to have real time data logging to investigate processing trends which may help us improve the process.
Can off the shelf data loggers be linked to a PC for continuous downloading?
Sorry for the ignorance but where is S88.01 concepts of recipes as mentioned in the above reply?