Industrial Applications of Computers Case Study

Industrial Applications of Computers - Case Study Example Profitable papermaking means continuous production with minimal deviations from quality specifications. While steady-state control performance is essential, the elimination of waste during transitions such as changes of grades and break recoveries is where the greatest economic gains can be achieved. As production rates rise, often stretching the design capacity of the paper machine, Quality Control Systems (QCS) allow the company to improve the efficiency and quality of the production. This is evident from the significant new developments in quality measurement and control since the introduction of cross direction (CD) control seen in the past years since the 1970s.For paperboard manufacturing using the paper machines, it is necessary to establish the control system that provides a high-mix, low-volume product production. Control parameters are the key component of optimizing the operation, and so the paperboard company should consider an advanced performing QCS. In many cases, the control parameters of paperboard production facilities are normally fixed to the same value using a typical product. Many of these paper production facilities operates in a high mix, low-volume condition because the equipment are consolidated and diverse products are produced to satisfy the end user’s request. Moreover, the paperboard production equipment is often disturbed by the processes of feed preparation or by auxiliary systems. It is for this reason that the control parameters require optimization.... Control parameters are the key component of optimizing the operation, and so the paperboard company should consider an advanced performing QCS. In many cases, the control parameters of paperboard production facilities are normally fixed to the same value using a typical product. Many of these paper production facilities operates in a high mix, low-volume condition because the equipment are consolidated and diverse products are produced to satisfy the end user’s request. Moreover, the paperboard production equipment is often disturbed by the processes of feed preparation or by auxiliary systems. It is for this reason that the control parameters require optimization by deploying a plug-and-play quality control system. Plug-and-play Quality Control System Network Diagram The plug-and-play QCS is a cost effective tool that is used to monitor and control the processes of producing the paperboards. The QCS will consist of a scanner that is driven by a logic controller that is progra mmable, measurement sensors that are network-ready and a station for operations which is connected to a high speed Ethernet network. The architecture provides unlimited connectivity that helps in configuring the system as part of the mill wide distributed control system for full integration into the business network (Oloufa & Thomas, 1999). The configured system featured an off-the-shelf software suite that is configured for high resolution cross the profiles of the equipment, providing historical trends, statistics as well as the supervisory controls of MD/CD. The QCS system is built with components that meet the standard of the industry providing a generic installation designed give self maintenance to the