Page 231 - Sensors and Control Systems in Manufacturing

CHAPTER 4

Networking of

Sensors and

Control Systems

in Manufacturing

4.1 Introduction
Central to the development of any computer-integrated manufactur-
ing facility is the selection of the appropriate automated manufactur-
ing system and the sensors and control systems to implement it. The
degree to which a CIM configuration can be realized depends on the
capabilities and cost of available equipment and the simplicity of
information flow.
When designing an error-free manufacturing system, the manu-
facturing design group must have an appreciation for the functional
limits of the automated manufacturing equipment of interest and the
ability of the sensors to provide effective information flow since these
parameters will constrain the range of possible design configurations.
Obviously, it is not useful to design a manufacturing facility that can-
not be implemented because it exceeds the equipment’s capabilities.
It is desirable to match automated manufacturing equipment to the
application. Although sensors and control systems are—by far—less
costly than the automated manufacturing equipment, it is neither
useful nor cost-effective to apply the most sophisticated sensors and
controls, with the highest performance, to every possible application.
Rather, it is important that the design process determines the pre-
ferred parameter values.
The preferred values must be compatible with available equipment
and sensors and control systems, and should be those appropriate for

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