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It's one thing for a manufacturer to have goals like more innovation, better performance, and data-driven optimization, but how do you make these lofty goals reality? Often the answer lies in starting with the basics. Get the infrastructure in place, and build from there. In many cases, the first step not only opens up a world of possibilities, but delivers some immediate and tangible benefits as well.
Case in point: Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA) Portland production facility for Western Star Trucks.
The trucking industry in North America is highly competitive and quite dynamic. At Western Star Trucks, there are many different and innovative options that a customer may request. Each truck that comes down the line is "like a snowflake - no two are alike." There are different configurations of wheel bases, axles, colors, air cleaners, and other options, and each truck is customized to meet the needs of the customer.
Western Star has to manage all of the logistical elements of bringing all of those parts together to meet the requirements of each particular truck build, but this was often a challenge because of limited visibility and monitoring ability on the plant floor. The existing infrastructure and network suffered from low resiliency and performance, limited scalability, and poor wireless coverage.
They tackled the network project by deciding to not just refresh the network but also position the plant for the future - including creating a platform and foundation that can handle innovative manufacturing and shop floor applications including video and RFID. It helped that they had a long-standing partnership with Cisco and Rockwell Automation. Today, the new network has enabled DTNA to have secure and reliable Wi-Fi connectivity everywhere on the shop floor, as well as in office areas. Now, instead of working from huge binders of paperwork, plant managers can look up parts and check status in real time using their iPads from wherever they find themselves.
With the new architecture, DTNA can combine its IT and automation network environments in one secure, manageable, and converged environment. This combination brings better visibility and insight into manufacturing, so managers can understand how well processes are working, and make faster, better decisions. Daimler’s control and information architecture, which includes programmable logic controllers (PLCs), a distributed control system (DCS), sensors, and sensor networks, all were migrated to the new network and tested. A converged IT infrastructure enables better innovation on the plant floor, support for big data and analytics, process optimization, and new tools and applications.
Bringing its IT and operational technology (OT) departments together more closely also helps DTNA meet its security and compliance requirements. With the Cisco and Rockwell Automation architectures, lT and plant automation staff can form multiple layers of defense based on open standards, enabling the IT group to set up processes and policies that identify and contain evolving threats in industrial automation and control systems. The new network with software-defined networking (SDN) also supports remote troubleshooting and visibility.
The improved network also supports a much greater use of mobile devices throughout the plant. With mobile connectivity, employees can quickly connect with virtual experts from vendors and partners when a machine or piece of equipment needs repair or maintenance, minimizing downtime. Visibility into needed parts is also much better and drives better delivery times for customers. The network upgrade also puts Daimler in a position to improve its network security, including ironclad firewalls and intrusion prevention software that stops viruses, Trojan horses, and other malicious software that may attempt to infiltrate the enterprise. And new automation switches have enabled separate automation zones to control and protect intellectual property and vendor accessibility.
With Western Star's new network infrastructure, they can plan for future improvements and consider innovative new manufacturing processes. But they have already begun to see benefits in the form of better business agility and efficiency. Their Digital Manufacturing, Big Data and analytics, Industrial Internet of Things journey has begun. For more information, click here.
Case in point: Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA) Portland production facility for Western Star Trucks.
The trucking industry in North America is highly competitive and quite dynamic. At Western Star Trucks, there are many different and innovative options that a customer may request. Each truck that comes down the line is "like a snowflake - no two are alike." There are different configurations of wheel bases, axles, colors, air cleaners, and other options, and each truck is customized to meet the needs of the customer.
Western Star has to manage all of the logistical elements of bringing all of those parts together to meet the requirements of each particular truck build, but this was often a challenge because of limited visibility and monitoring ability on the plant floor. The existing infrastructure and network suffered from low resiliency and performance, limited scalability, and poor wireless coverage.
They tackled the network project by deciding to not just refresh the network but also position the plant for the future - including creating a platform and foundation that can handle innovative manufacturing and shop floor applications including video and RFID. It helped that they had a long-standing partnership with Cisco and Rockwell Automation. Today, the new network has enabled DTNA to have secure and reliable Wi-Fi connectivity everywhere on the shop floor, as well as in office areas. Now, instead of working from huge binders of paperwork, plant managers can look up parts and check status in real time using their iPads from wherever they find themselves.
With the new architecture, DTNA can combine its IT and automation network environments in one secure, manageable, and converged environment. This combination brings better visibility and insight into manufacturing, so managers can understand how well processes are working, and make faster, better decisions. Daimler’s control and information architecture, which includes programmable logic controllers (PLCs), a distributed control system (DCS), sensors, and sensor networks, all were migrated to the new network and tested. A converged IT infrastructure enables better innovation on the plant floor, support for big data and analytics, process optimization, and new tools and applications.
Bringing its IT and operational technology (OT) departments together more closely also helps DTNA meet its security and compliance requirements. With the Cisco and Rockwell Automation architectures, lT and plant automation staff can form multiple layers of defense based on open standards, enabling the IT group to set up processes and policies that identify and contain evolving threats in industrial automation and control systems. The new network with software-defined networking (SDN) also supports remote troubleshooting and visibility.
The improved network also supports a much greater use of mobile devices throughout the plant. With mobile connectivity, employees can quickly connect with virtual experts from vendors and partners when a machine or piece of equipment needs repair or maintenance, minimizing downtime. Visibility into needed parts is also much better and drives better delivery times for customers. The network upgrade also puts Daimler in a position to improve its network security, including ironclad firewalls and intrusion prevention software that stops viruses, Trojan horses, and other malicious software that may attempt to infiltrate the enterprise. And new automation switches have enabled separate automation zones to control and protect intellectual property and vendor accessibility.
With Western Star's new network infrastructure, they can plan for future improvements and consider innovative new manufacturing processes. But they have already begun to see benefits in the form of better business agility and efficiency. Their Digital Manufacturing, Big Data and analytics, Industrial Internet of Things journey has begun. For more information, click here.