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Communications Network for Manufacturing Applications

Objective

This project continues the work on CNMA initiated under ESPRIT project 955. Phases 1 to 3 of the project achieved the CNMA objectives of specifying, implementing, validating and promoting emerging communications standards, and placed its participants in an internationally competitive position.
This project continued the work on a communications network for manufacturing applications (CNMA). During this phase manufacturing message specification (MMS), directory service and file transfer and manipulation (FTAM) industrial communications protocols were addressed, together with the associated application interfaces. Original work was performed on an intelligent network management system. The project also addressed enhanced performance architectures and the protocol gateways necessary to solve user migration problems. These developments were applied to 2 types of manufacturing environment. An experimental pilot, free from the pressures of a manufacturing facility, was used for the first application of the communication developments. Further validation has been achieved by the application of the communication software to real production facilities.
The workplan included: preparation of case studies of user communication strategies, definition of CNMA implementation guide, subsequent implementation by vendors on minicomputers and controllers, verification of the profiles by the application of vendor hardware and software to experimental and real production environments, promotion of experience gained within standards bodies and provision of CNMA expertise through technical exchange and information dissemination.
By their participation in the project the partners have ensured a high level of European expertise in this rapidly evolving and vital area of computer integrated manufacture (CIM) development. The CIM users are able to make informed choices on the evolution of their own internal communication systems whilst the information technology (IT) vendors are able to ensure that international agreements on communications protocols are rapidly incorporated into commercial products.
This project covers the extension of the project into Phase 4 of the programme. During this phase MMS, Directory Service and FTAM industrial communications protocols were addressed, together with the associated application interfaces. Original work was performed on an intelligent network management system. The project also addressed enhanced performance architectures and the protocol gateways necessary to solve user migration problems.

The Phase 4 workplan includes:

- preparation of case studies of user communication strategies
- definition of CNMA Implementation Guide (revision 4.0)
- subsequent implementation by vendors on minicomputers and controllers
- verification of the profiles by the application of vendor hardware and software to experimental and real production environments
- promotion of experience gained within standards bodies
- provision of CNMA expertise through technical exchange and information dissemination.

By their participation in the project the partners have ensured a high level of European expertise in this rapidly evolving and vital area of CIM development. The CIM users are able to make informed choices on the evolution of their own internal communication systems whilst the IT vendors are able to ensure that international agreements on communications protocols are rapidly incorporated into commercial products.

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Coordinator

British Aerospace Defence Ltd
EU contribution
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Address
Strand Road
PR1 8UD Preston
United Kingdom

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Participants (15)

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Last update: 17 June 1994

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Permalink: https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/2617

European Union, 2024