What Mitsubishi’s e-F@ctory Alliance means for users is better integration, more control and improved profitability.

For manufacturing companies profitability is an important benchmark, but it cannot be separated from quality or productivity.  If you are fortunate enough to have started with a green field site you are ahead of the game, but for most manufacturing and production engineers it is a matter of optimising what exists and integrating what is added.

Some manufacturers have implemented point solutions on a case-by-case basis, but because of the higher costs and support issues, this approach is not optimal and a holistic approach is needed from shop-floor to top-floor.

Mitsubishi’s e-F@ctory alliance offers users an advanced combination of hardware and software tools to provide the integrated platform needed for improving the performance of any manufacturing enterprise, and providing three key benefits:

-Reduce total cost of ownership (TCO)
-Maximise productivity
-Seamless integration production

Seamless flow of information between production and management is pre-requisite that e-F’@ctory delivers, enabling company management to make faster and better decision based on real-time information.

e-F@ctory manufacturing systems provide data integrity while supporting network security and lowering project risks.  e-F@ctory provides a more superior platform than one based on a point integration solution as it replaces shop floor Windows PC with more reliable and secure control stations.

Intelligent networking

An e-F@ctory solution completely integrates factory equipment within business processes, using common systems, protocols and networks to bring these functions together. This can be achieved using a single communications network or even through multiple networks.

The control platform is highly scalable, capable of controlling a machine, cell, lines or complete plants. It can monitor, or map all channels concurrently, which means that business functions are be integrated more effectively.

Scalable investment programme

Because implementation can be scalable, the capital investment required to start achieving the benefits of an e-F@ctory system can be relatively small, compared to the significant benefits that can be achieved. Most legacy/existing control systems can be utilised and unnecessary devices eliminated.

More profit

By reducing costs, improving output and avoiding unnecessary wastage.  Mitsubishi Electric uses e-F@ctory in its own production line and has demonstrated how the e-F@ctory solution has improved its Return on Investment (ROI) and achieved a much shorter time-to-value, which is critical in today’s demanding manufacturing.

e-F@ctory provides an information connection between the control systems and IT systems in a manner that is particularly appropriate for MES and enterprise applications. It communicates among these domains using technology that provides high performance and ease-of-implementation while at the same time allowing the domains to retain their solidarity and independence.

The direct connection between control systems and business systems eliminates a middle layer of software and systems thus reducing potential points of failure.  With faster time-to-value, the project’s ROI improves. e-F@ctory provides flexibility to adapt to change.

Without changing the equipment interface, this connectivity solution has the ability to add additional support for systems including QA, PDM (Product Data Management), performance management and others as defined by a business’ needs.

Go to the Mitsubishi e-Factory alliance website

Open the e-F@ctory brochure from Mitsubishi Electric

Go here for Mitsubishi e-Factory products from stock