China announced in March that it will kick off more than 30 pilot smart manufacturing demonstration projects this year and will expand the scope of the pilot program in 2017. (Photo : www.en.xinfinance.com)
Data Systems Consulting, Taiwan's largest supplier of enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems, and industrial computer maker Advantech have collaborated to provide solutions and boost efficiency in manufacturing, the two companies announced in a press conference on Tuesday, July 21, following the partnership.
The report said that the new alliance will make possible the collection of data from controllers, robots, sensors, and controlling equipment in factories, as well as the uploading of data to Advantech's Web browser-based software platform, and thus enable enterprises to remotely monitor, analyze and improve their manufacturing processes through Data Systems' ERP system.
J.R. Chen, vice president of sales and marketing division at Data Systems, said that the partnership will cater to the "Industry 4.0" initiative, which was promoted in Germany and other European countries. The plan aims to achieve advantages in production by creating a networked, flexible and self-organizing manufacturing process for highly customizable products.
Chen said during the press conference that 10 companies are expected to sign up with Data Systems, including companies engaged in communication, electronics, chemical engineering and machine sectors.
The vice president, however, refused to provide information on potential sales contributions from the smart factory solutions, but only expressed optimism about its long-term market potential.
The global sales of industrial automation systems are projected to rise from $170 billion in 2013 to $209.4 billion in 2016, according to market researchers at IHS Technology.
In Dec. 2014, Advantech announced that it will collaborate with Microsoft to build Asia's first IoT (Internet of Things) WISE-Cloud.
The company also tied up with Intel for the development, manufacturing, testing, marketing and selling of computing platforms for the IoT industry in 2013.
