Closed Loop CNC Manufacturing -- Connecting the CNC to the Enterprise

Published

November 26, 2007

Author(s)

Sid Venkatesh, Rich Morihara, John L. Michaloski, Frederick M. Proctor

Abstract

Closed Loop manufacturing describes the use of feedback from a Computer Numerical Control (CNC) to the Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) to help in business operations. Although conceptually simple, many obstacles make CNC-ERP connectivity difficult - incompatibilities of various generations of systems supplied by multiple vendors, differing personnel mindsets and objectives, and outright complexity of ERP. A long journey starts with a single step, and this paper describes a successful pilot project that detected scrap on a CNC during production of the Boeing 737 Leading Edge panels and then automatically entered a scrap reorder into the ERP Supply Chain Management (SCM) Reorder System.  The pilot leveraged three major technologies, including open-architecture CNC, OLE for Process Control (OPC) integration technology, and supply chain Web Services. Overall, the pilot project successfully established that integration of CNC into SCM can be straightforward as we automated 90% of one manual step within the scrap Supply Chain Reorder process to impart a leaner manufacturing operation.

Proceedings Title

International Computers and Information in Engineering Conference | 2007 | ASME |

Conference Dates

September 4-7, 2007

Conference Location

Las Vegas, NV, US

Conference Title

International Computers and Information in Engineering Conference

Pub Type

Conferences

Download Paper

Local Download

Keywords

Computerized Numerical Control, Enterprise Resource Planning, machine tool, milling, Supply Chain Management

Citation

Venkatesh, S. , Morihara, R. , Michaloski, J. and Proctor, F. (2007), Closed Loop CNC Manufacturing  -- Connecting the CNC to the Enterprise, International Computers and Information in Engineering Conference | 2007 | ASME |, Las Vegas, NV, US, [online], https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=823611 (Accessed October 6, 2024)