Manufacturing represents approximately 21 % of the EU’s GDP and 20 % of its employment, providing more than 30 million jobs in 230 000 enterprises, mostly SMEs. Moreover, each job in industry is considered to be linked to two more in related services. European manufacturing is also a dominant element in international trade, leading the world in areas such as automotive, machinery and agricultural engineering. Already threatened by both the lower-wage economies and other high-tech rivals, the situation of EU companies was even made more difficult by the downturn.
The Z-Fact0r consortium has conducted an extensive state-of-the-art research and realised that although a number of activities have been trying to address the need for zero-defect manufacturing, still there is a vast business opportunity for innovative, high-ROI (Return on Investment) solutions, that will ensure better quality and higher productivity in the European manufacturing industries.
The Z-Fact0r solution comprises the introduction of five (5) multi-stage production-based strategies targeting (i) the early detection of the defect (Z-DETECT), (ii) the prediction of the defect generation (Z-PREDICT), (iii) the prevention of defect generation by recalibrating the production line (multi-stage), as well as defect propagation in later stages of the production (Z-PREVENT), (iv) the reworking/remanufacturing of the product, if this is possible, using additive and subtractive manufacturing techniques (Z-REPAIR) and (v) the management of the aforementioned strategies through event modelling, KPI (key performance indicators) monitoring and real-time decision support (Z-MANAGE).
To do that we have brought together a total of thirteen (13) EU-based partners, representing both industry and academia, having ample experience in cutting-edge technologies and active presence in the EU manufacturing.
| Web resources: | https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/723906 |
| Start date: | 01-10-2016 |
| End date: | 31-03-2020 |
| Total budget - Public funding: | 6 043 019,00 Euro - 4 206 253,00 Euro |
Original description
Manufacturing represents approximately 21 % of the EU’s GDP and 20 % of its employment, providing more than 30 million jobs in 230 000 enterprises, mostly SMEs. Moreover, each job in industry is considered to be linked to two more in related services. European manufacturing is also a dominant element in international trade, leading the world in areas such as automotive, machinery and agricultural engineering. Already threatened by both the lower-wage economies and other high-tech rivals, the situation of EU companies was even made more difficult by the downturn.The Z-Fact0r consortium has conducted an extensive state-of-the-art research (see section 1.4) and realised that although a number of activities (see section 1.3) have been trying to address the need for zero-defect manufacturing, still there is a vast business opportunity for innovative, high-ROI (Return on Investment) solutions to ensure, better quality and higher productivity in the European manufacturing industries.
The Z-Fact0r solution comprises the introduction of five (5) multi-stage production-based strategies targeting (i) the early detection of the defect (Z-DETECT), (ii) the prediction of the defect generation (Z-PREDICT), (iii) the prevention of defect generation by recalibrating the production line (multi-stage), as well as defect propagation in later stages of the production (Z-PREVENT), (iv) the reworking/remanufacturing of the product, if this is possible, using additive and subtractive manufacturing techniques (Z-REPAIR) and (v) the management of the aforementioned strategies through event modelling, KPI (key performance indicators) monitoring and real-time decision support (Z-MANAGE).
To do that we have brought together a total of thirteen (13) EU-based partners, representing both industry and academia, having ample experience in cutting-edge technologies and active presence in the EU manufacturing.
Status
CLOSEDCall topic
FOF-03-2016Update Date
27-10-2022Factories of the Future Partnership - Made in Europe Partnership
Twenty-six results were identified in total and their beneficiaries hold exclusively the ownership rights, with the exemption of a single shared result. All these results add up to the integrated Z-Fact0r solution which demonstrates certain innovative and unique features. As a matter of fact, Z-Fact0r is a holistic & innovative ZDM solution which increases overall quality & customer satisfaction by reducing production costs, energy & material consumption, while utilizing almost all the state-of-the art techniques for implementing ZDM. Zero-Defect Manufacturing is currently the new trend in multi-line manufacturing, and therefore companies offering solutions similar to the Z-Fact0r emerge. However, at the moment, there are very few (if any) platforms -such as the Z-Fact0r- available in the market, offering such integrated quality control for the industry.
Eleven results were developed by SMEs in total and their beneficiaries hold exclusively the ownership rights. All SMEs conducted a patent search in order to investigated whether the future exploitation of their results could be at risk due to competition in the respective fields of activity. The technical partners reported that they do not recognize in the market any already patented solutions that could impede the commercialization of their components. The reason for that is that the components which are similar to their innovations and are either commercialized, patented or published, have different focus areas and different target markets. This finding is very important for the SMEs as it signifies that they could bring their Z-Fact0r results up to TRL9 and put them in the market, thus, fostering their financial stance and increasing their in-house know-how and expertise.
Concerning Microsemi use case: Firstly, the knowledge and physical equipment already in place will have a lasting legacy within the MICROSEMI facility at Caldicot. This understanding and equipment will continue to be used on the original use case and expanded upon as explained in the next section.
There was a large lack of understanding at the beginning of this project about what could be achieved by the type of approach being undertaken within the project and whether it could produce results in a manufacturing environment. Now we have an answer, and the Z-Fact0r approach has been a great success.
NECO, as end user, has contributed to the estimation of the benefits Z-Fact0r platform would provide to the manufacturers. In the NECO case:
- the direct losses for defective product manufacturing at the special flute grinding operation are between 10.000 and 12.000 €/year
- considering a 25% scrap reduction at this very same operation (technical KPI set for Z-Fact0r, and objectively achievable), some 2.500-3.000€ would be saved yearly in the particular WALTER pilot grinding machine
- inferring the same defective quantity reduction for all CNC machines due to the implementation of the Z-Fact0r solution, we might be talking about 15.000-20.000€ saved every year (this should be the final estimated figure window for the full implementation of Z-Fact0r at NECO facilities).
For bringing the Z-Fact0r solution to TRL 9, NECO would definitely support the Consortium intention of trying to find other funding opportunities for the future, especially in the form of other calls from the European Commission.
For manufacturing of metallic parts with less stringent dimensional requirements, the 3D scanning equipment is a fundamental part of the solution, especially if there are many parts being produced daily with the same geometry. This would allow for an automated inspection to be put in place and, if the production rate is too high, a significative number of samples could still be controlled and used for the PREDICT and PREVENT modules to be used. Of course, sensors in the machines need to be installed for enough data to be available in the machine learning processes. Then, the results could be applied not only to the samples but to all parts being produced. For products with larger added value, the robot deburring is a compulsory tool to use, as it eliminates the need of human intervention in rather sensitive tasks as are the elimination of defects originating in the production line.
Project clusters are groups of projects that cooperate by organising events, generating joint papers, etc...
Z-Fact0r is expected to support the transition to the so-called smart factories of the future. Smart factory is one equipped with technology that enables machine-to-machine and machine-to-human communication in tandem with analytical and cognitive technologies so that decisions are made correctly and on time. Factory automation, inparticular, implies a set of technologies and automatic control devices to enhance the productivity and quality of products and simultaneously decrease the production cost. It also entails the minimization of human intervention in the industry and ensures a superior performance as compared to humans. It comprises the use of computers, robots, control systems, and information technologies to handle industrial processes. Given the above definition, it is clear that the Z-Fact0r solution can be viewed as a factory automation tool, as it can significantly contribute to the integration and convergence of technologies for measurement and quality control, for data collection, storage and analysis at the factory level, aiming to guarantee high-quality of products without interfering, actually improving the production efficiency of the entire system. Since the concept of smart factories is under development and in practice a lot of changes are anticipated in this field in the near future, new markets may emerge or existing ones may shift to accommodate integrated and state of the art solutions, such as Z-Fact0r.
The solution provided byZ-Fact0r reduces the number of scrapped parts at different steps of the production process. The use of just the needed amount of raw materials is thus a consequence of applying Z-Fact0r, but it has manifold repercussions, as there is reduction of wear of equipment and tools by doing it right the first time. It also eliminates the duplication of auxiliary materials needed to produce the parts.
The Z-Fact0r platform, and the intensive monitoring of both product and process that accompanies it, has been key for the reduction of defective manufactured parts at the flute grinding process. Should similar solutions be implemented in the rest of machines at NECO premises with a defective rate reduction of around 25%, some 20.000€ could be saved by NECO yearly in the form of raw materials (outside-diameter-grinded High Speed Steel bars), which would instead require to be recycled. Furthermore, if the cutting angle happens to be wrong, the parts cannot be remanufactured and need to be scrapped.
The Z-Fact0r solution contributes to prevent defective parts to be sintered and reduces the number of defects during the machining of sintered parts. Most of the defective, very hard components, cannot be recovered by further machining or by healing operations and must thus be fully scrapped. Besides these recyclable materials there are also losses on the different production steps: from milling, spray drying, pressing, green machining and sintering.
With lesser defective part manufacturing, in the same proportion as HSS (raw material), oil consumption from the grinding machine (used as a coolant and in order to reduce friction between the tool and the part) is reduced, and the abrasive material waste generated from the cutting tool is also reduced, something which comes along with the oil as waste waters. Also, further upstream, the usage of salts for the heat treatment process also diminishes.
The reduction of the defective rate in the flute grinding process is key, due to this part of the manufacturing chain being the one with the higher proportion of scrapped parts. The time working on the reworking of the parts or the manufacturing of new, “extra” ones, inside a certain batch, multiplied by the hourly cost of the machines would be the numerical estimation of the saved energy, which, of course, is proportional to CO2 emissions. However, the flute grinding process is not the process with the most energy consumption, but it is, by far, the heat treatment (which is located upstream and, thus, the reduction of the defective in this particular process where the NECO pilot focuses would also impact on the energy saving of the machines and processes that come before).
Obtaining the part with the right specifications at the first attempt means that the energy consumption will be at its lowest. The confidence Z-Fact0r solution brings also allows us to work with closer tolerances, less excesses of material, and thus less re-working time throughout the production steps.
Within the Z-Fact0r, the proposed (higher level) DSS, with the support of the knowledge base and the online inspection module (1st level decision support at single stage), produce, verify and validate decisions aligned with the quality control policies, production targets, desired product specifications and maintenance management requirements. Key functional characteristics of the envisioned DSS incorporates among others, techniques for monitoring and predicting product quality, action prioritization, root cause analysis, and mitigation planning algorithms (at product and workstation level). Moving beyond existing solutions that focus only on specific aspects of the production procedure, or that are restrained to diagnosis, the proposed DSS system incorporates autonomous, hierarchical decision support, based on process analytical technologies and newly developed suitably adjusted knowledge-based systems, and combines product monitoring models and data analytics from heterogeneous sources. The envisioned DSS takes into account a wide set of multiple factors and criteria, such as data uncertainty, lack of information and information quality, involvement of multiple actors, and real-time response. Thanks to the 5 intertwined zero-defect strategies (i.e. Z-PREDICT, Z-PREVENT, Z-DETECT, Z-REPAIR and Z-MANAGE) the overall solution presents a significant contribution to a spectacular improvement in the overall performance and reliability of the targeted multi-stage manufacturing systems and in the production agility (response to continuous adjustments in production targets).
DATAPIXEL provides the information associated to the defect detection in the manufacturing parts selected. This information is used as an input for developing the defect detection algorithms of Z-Fact0r solution. Based on this input, a data conditioning methodology has been developed to extract information concerning to the defect position and type. This information will be used as baseline for the model validation, via comparison with the respective simulation results.
The procedure that has been used is the following:
- Image-based feature extraction: Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN) and Variational Auto Encoders (VAE) used as feature extractors. CNNs will define the appropriate features that have been used for the classification between healthy and defected parts, and VAEs will be utilized to distinguish that can be used for image generation.
- Feature selection: An efficient filter feature selection (FS) method was developed for selecting informative and non- redundant feature subsets. In addition to enhanced accuracy rates and dimensionality reduction, the method have reasonably low computational demands. A robust and computationally efficient evaluation criterion with respect to patterns was defined allowing us to assess the redundancy between the features. The proposed FS technique was performed on a forward selection basis handling simultaneously both the discrimination power and the complementary characteristics between the extracted features. To decide on the number of retained features, a termination condition was finally introduced, thus avoiding the trial-and-error procedure usually employed in the common FS techniques of the literature.
- Classification: The selected features were input in a virtual classification module. The role of this module is to provide a decision on the workpiece condition. The technologies used were Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) and deep learning algorithms.
Nowadays, it is familiar that within the Industry 4.0, the ICT and the CPS, as parts of the industrial processes, are implemented and merged. For data collection, sensors are being used, imbedded within the AI in order to make smooth communication among humans and machines. Thus, Z-Fact0r is a pioneer with several advances in predictive maintenance, IoT sensors on shop floors and endless communication between the various components of the system, creating effective and many efficient applications for Industry 4.0.
Once a “repairable” defect is detected (Z-DETECT), a proper and customized repairing action must be deployed with the minimum time and effort, assuring the best productivity and production flow. In fact, a major challenge for an effective ZD manufacturing is related with the capability to automatically repair the occurred defects without perturbing the overall production flow.
Z-Fact0r is developing a model-based, supervisory control solution that will be able to interpret the interstage quality control measurements together with the monitoring of the process itself, in order to identify the defect sources and generate a proper and customized repairing action. Additive manufacturing in the form of inkjet or paste printing of various materials (metal, ceramic, polymer resins) can successfully be used to fill a missing spot or correct a damaged part. Upon detection of the defected area, the printing head will deliver the patch material in solution or paste form. In the case of inkjet printing, defect as small as 20 μm can be patched. Post printing treatment of the delivered material include solvent evaporation (e.g. in the case of polymer patches), UV curing (e.g. in the case of epoxy resins) and low temperature laser sintering in the case of metal or ceramic nanoparticles, thermal curable resins or paste where a local reflow process is required.
To facilitate the implementation of the five strategies, Z-Fact0r is supporting a “reverse supply-chain” policy in the context of a multi-stage supply-chain attached to a multi-stage production. As a result, the defected products/parts detected in downstream stages (produced during a stage, or provided from suppliers in a particular stage) could be returned to upstream stages for remanufacturing or recycling.
Additive manufacturing (AM) is a widely used set of techniques used to build objects by adding layer-upon-layer of material. While materials typically used are plastic, metal or concrete, nowadays AM technologies are expanding to include all kind of materials such as ceramic, nanocomposites, glass, and other.
In Z-Fact0r, we exploited AM-based technologies as a tool for repairing of components in a production line. Thanks to the ability for local deposition, i.e. precision placement of material at desired position, AM was the optimum choice to correct or repair a defect. Moreover, AM combined with subtracted manufacturing techniques for the effective repairing. In context, in the case of a defect, material can be subtracted by means of laser ablation or classical machining, thus removing of the problematic area cleaning or preparing the surface. Then, AM is used to fill the defect with the desired material. A final step of sintering or other processing used to finalize the repairing action.
Additive manufacturing (AM) is a widely used set of techniques used to build objects by adding layer-upon-layer of material. While materials typically used are plastic, metal or concrete, nowadays AM technologies are expanding to include all kind of materials such as ceramic, nanocomposites, glass, and other.
In Z-Fact0r, we exploited AM-based technologies as a tool for repairing of components in a production line. Thanks to the ability for local deposition, i.e. precision placement of material at desired position, AM was the optimum choice to correct or repair a defect. Moreover, AM combined with subtracted manufacturing techniques for the effective repairing. In context, in the case of a defect, material can be subtracted by means of laser ablation or classical machining, thus removing of the problematic area cleaning or preparing the surface. Then, AM is used to fill the defect with the desired material. A final step of sintering or other processing used to finalize the repairing action.
Z-DETECT is the first strategy of the Z-Fact0r solution: the detection strategy consists of detecting any machining process anomaly or instability through process monitoring by means of controlled variables called critical process variables (CPVs). In particular, this strategy is invoked when a defect is being generated after the adaptation of the parameters. In such a scenario, an alarm is being triggered to flag the parameters that resulted in a defect. By mapping the true reasons, the system will be able to avoid having more generated defects by weighting the system model.
Apart from the inspection of the product from which the defect is being observed, the strategy involves more actions and processes to deal both with the generation of the detected defect, and its propagation to the next stages.
Z-PREDICT strategy is triggered when a defect is recognised during the Z-DETECT stage. The events detected from the physical layer of the system are engineered into high value data that will stipulate new and more accurate process models. Such an unbiased systems behaviour monitoring and analysis provides the basis for enriching the existing knowledge of the system (experience) learning new patterns, raising attention towards behaviour that cause operational and functional discrepancies (e.g. alarms) and the general trends in the shop-floor.
The more the data pool is being increased the more precise (repeatability) and accurate the predictions will be. The estimations for the future states involve the whole production line, e.g. machine status after x number of operations and/or quality of the products for given set of parameters.
The system will predict with high confidence the expected quality and customer satisfaction, allowing modifications to the parameters before the production of the products. In addition, Z-Fact0r can operate in the reverse mode, i.e. insert a Customer Satisfaction Goal and control the parameters accordingly to achieve this target.
The ability of Z-Fact0r to optimise the manufacturing processes according to certain/target quality levels and/or customer satisfaction is the key innovation to fulfil the industrial requirements.
The overall supervision and optimisation of the system is achieved after the execution of Z-MANAGE strategy. The defects are processed with Decision support system (DSS) tools and are interfaced with Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES). False positives and false negatives are clustered after each Z-Fact0r strategy, which results into a good filtering of these false alarms. To achieve so, the previous acquired knowledge and incidents are also processed to fine tune the system’s operation.
Additionally, the production is optimised by better scheduling, taking into account the environmental impact of each process. The optimised scheduling and adaptability of the manufacturing improves the overall flexibility, placing a premium on the production rates, satisfying the demand, while preserve increased machinery availability. Since, the Knowledge management system will tune the whole production according to certain quality levels and customer satisfaction, it is highly anticipated that the overall performance of the system will suffice the increased needs of the customers.
Z-Manage strategy involves also a Knowledge based decision support system which collects knowledge from all the components and the operators and therefore is able to suggest solution for the tuning the rest of the components.
The strategy involves also the decision making in the event of a defect. The defect will be analysed via the inspection system, from which the defect can be classified and categorised on its severity. In case of “repairable” defects the system will decide for the following; (i) rework on spot, (ii) removal from the production line for further inspection and rework. If the defect is classified as “non-repairable” then the system will decide whether (a) the product will be forwarded to upstream stages, or (b) considered as total failure where it will be recycled.
Difficulties in setting up the initial data collection infrastructure on the pilot sites was mitigated through the very careful data collection infrastructure selection where end users have been constantly assisted to set up the best approach to transfer data to Z-Fact0r platform, taking into consideration the internal security policies of the companies.
X.509 Certificate for the client certification and TLS handshakes between the Z-Fact0r components and the iLike machines
The secure connection are encrypted by two types of authentication:
- With username and password
- With X.509 Certificate, the client presents his certificate to the broker during the TLS handshake.
Z-Fact0r system is a distributed system by desing. The connections between the components and the data flow is authorized by the iLike machine in order the system to maintain all security aspects.
Difficulties in having access to machines/systems in the shopfloor for end users’ internal security policies was mitigated with the shopfloor machines/systems interface that is carried out by implementing security measures where different options to avoid direct access to machines through the company network have been investigated (e.g. separate network, mirror DB,…)
Implementation of security mechanism on the Z-Fact0r platform components, to achieve security. The basic architecture provides authorization and authentication as a means of deploying a secure system architecture.
SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) is a cryptographic protocol to provide communications security and ensure privacy and data integrity between two or more communicating computer applications.
OpenSSL is an open-source software library that contains an implementation of the SSL protocol used by NGINX (web server) to provide API over HTTPS.
Data communication between components is essential for the project. End users create data on their shop floor with embedded sensors on the machines, new integrated sensors developed for the project. All these data is propagated in the system with data communication protocols, such as HTTP and AMQP, creating a data stream process in the system. Interoperability between the data communication protocolos and brockers is crucial for a successful result of the data communication of the system. Various data sources work together and use different communication protocols. As a result, all these components and protocols should seamlessly work and their interoperability is what helps them. A message brocker was developed for the project, based on AMQP for data communication. In the initial phases of the project, there were also RESTful APIs that helped in the initial development of the components.
The Incremental Integration Strategy (IIS) provides a unified framework for all the EU distributed partners, to work on common principles. By following the IIS, we try to ensure that the integration will be successfully executed in a timely manner. It defines a number of factors to monitor and steps to execute.
The IIS manifests that the components are integrated and tested incrementally and tested to ensure smooth interaction among them. Every component is combined incrementally, i.e., one by one till all components are integrated logically to make the required application, instead of integrating the whole system at once and then performing testing on the end product. Integrated components are tested as a group to ensure successful integration and data flow between components. The process is repeated until all components are combined and tested successfully. The tests included in the IIS are:
- Load test
- Stress test
- Spike test
- Endurance test
- Scalability test
- Volume test
The IIS and the Integration plan of the Z-Fact0r solution were based on the same APIs and protocols as the data exchange in the system. There were no new APIs designed for the integration process and the integration protocol implemented was derived by the IIS and the Integration plan of the Z-Fact0r system.
During the integration phase the same communication protocols were used: HTTP and AMQP for the data exchange. Also there is Wi - Fi connection for integration the various components and their updates on premises or on cloud during the integration process of the system. Finally, FTP was used during the integration phase for quick transfer of files on the shop floor premises.
The data exchange format throughout the project's components was JSON. JSON lightweight, easy for humans to read and write it and provides all relevant information in a formatted way. It is also easy to change to include further fields when necessary or to be restructured for other components. XML was also used as data exchange format. XML also has the same characteristics with JSON in regards to easiness and accessibility. An example of one of the JSON formats used the project is given below to describe the prediction outputs:
Semantic interoperability is desired in the project. An ontology was created to describe all the entities participating in the project components, system, communication protocols as well as the entities given by the end users. The Context Aware algorithm was based on this ontology to create the operation rules for the system. The algorithm provided the essential information to other components about the implementation of the solution. For example, the Context Aware algorithm provided the Reverse Supply Chain with all the necessary information about the production line, the production stages, the return levels and then the RSC was able to create a set of rules to implemented by the end user.
The whole platform of the Z-Fact0r solution was able to work with other external applications, through a message brocker which is able to receive and send data to external systems. The interoperability level between the Z-Fact0r platform and external applications is essential for communication and integration purposes. Security and safety issues arise when different platforms cooperate. The Z-Fact0r platform implemented an AAA mechanism (Access, Autorisation and Authentication) to secure the safety of the platform during the connection with other external applications.
Access was given to the Z-Fact0r platform to only authorised users. The platform installation was done either on the shop floor premises or servers deployed by the technical providing partners creating a limited access environment. There was also the authorisation between the components and external appl, where the each component was authorised in an authorisation server with their unique Bearer Token in order to subscribe in the message brocker and publish or receive the available data. Further steps, such as user authentication, were not included in the project scope.
Z-Fact0r components were developed by different technical providing partners as mostly standalone components. The result was that on each shop floor worked many different components individually. An interoperability level was necessary for the Z-Fact0r system to be a solution to work as a whole. Various integration processes and extensive planning took place during the project and created an integrated system as a final product. The interoperability between the components was the first essential characteristic for the integration process. The components were desinged in the system, in a way that allowed them to operate together without conflicts during data streaming and operation.
Z-Fact0r architecture was based on the modular design of the components and then the integration of the components to a complete system. For each component a specific architecture was followed by the responsible technology providing partner, base on the use cases, scenarios, end user requirements and technical requirements. The desing for each component was documented in the respective deliverable. Each component also followed the technological trends of their fields and exploited the state of the art of the field. An overall ontology of the Z-Fact0r system was created to include all possible actors, functions, assets etc. All components were initially deployed as standalone applications and then an integration plan was implemented. Z-Fact0r project followed the Incremental Integration Strategy (IIS) where the components were deployed on the shop floors and integrated as one.
The Z-Fac0r project followed the AMQP and MQTT protocols for the communication between the components. A message brocker was develope by HOLONIX and was called iLike. The iLike implemented the publish/subscribe mechanism for all components which connected to it. The components were authorised in the iLike brocker and repository with a Bearer Token and then used the mechanism to publish or receive the data. An open API was used to create REST GET calls in order to initiate the communicatio between the component and the brocker. The communication steps between the component and the brocker were:
- GET call by the component to initiate communication
- The component is authenticated by the iLike machine
- The iLike machine appoints the respective topics for the components to publish or subscribe to them
- A component published data to a topic and another subcribes to the topic to receive the data
The data from the iLike machines are sent into the cloud to a broker using MQTT protocol (a lightweight protocol that transports messages between devices), it stores the data as messages, so the subscribers can get the values.
MQTT broker can easily scale from a single device to thousands, manage and tracks all client connection state and permit secure connections.
Wireless communication of the Z-Fact0r solution was based on Wi - Fi protocol.
Z-Fact0r hybrid framework, obtained by applying a software and hardware integration strategy, is installed on the industrial end users shop floors. This architecture exploits features from Relational Databases and Triplestore while using the blackboard architectural pattern which ensures efficient and accurate communication of data transfer among software applications and devices.
There is little integration with legacy systems, such as CMMS or ERP for the Z-Fact0r solution.
The RESTful API over HTTP has been chosen to fulfil the necessity of sending intermediate or final results to the repository from Z-Modules side, the API utilizes JSON as default exchange format and JWT (JSON Web Token) as authentication mechanisms.
The JWT is a standard that defines a JSON format scheme for exchanging information between various services. JWTs are widely used to authenticate requests in Web Services authentication mechanisms where the client sends an authentication request to the server, the server generates a signed token and returns it to the client which, from that moment on, will use it to authenticate subsequent requests.
To store data from different sources, including the data elaborated by various Z-Modules a Z-Fact0r data repository has been developed.
The first source of data is the temporal machine data coming from machine sensors, to store this data is used Cassandra, a distributed NoSQL DBMS capable to handle large amount of data across many servers and provide high availability.
The following one is used to store others complex and structured production information with the relational DBMS Mysql.
Another data source in the Z-Fact0r context is the output generated by various modules that carry out the analysis result.
All database schema, communication protocols, security applications of the Z-Fact0r solution are designed to accommodate the scalability of the solution. All technology can be implemented in larger scale projects without major changes. The one difference with dealing with big data is the use of a different database approach, such as MongoDB, which is more suitable for big data analysis.
Z-Factor's uniques value propositions include the following features:
-Holistic & innovative ZDM solution
-Increases overall quality & customer satisfaction
-Reduces production costs, energy & material consumption
-Utilizes almost all the state-of-the art techniques for implementing ZDM
The Business Model Canvas is a strategic management tool for developing new or documenting existing business models. It’s a one-page document containing nine boxes that represent different fundamental elements of a business: 1. value propositions, 2. customer segments, 3. channels, 4. customer relationships, 5. revenue streams, 6. key resources, 7. key partners, 8. key activities, and 9. cost structure.
Within the Z-Fact0r project, we developed:
-Business Model Canvases for the Results that technical partners/beneficiaries wish to individually exploit and
-The Business Model Canvas for the entire Z-Factor solution.
The Z-Fact0r business eco-system will comprise:
-R&D Collaboration
-Industry associations
-Sensor manufacturing companies
-Potential suppliers: Technology suppliers, Technology integrators, ICT suppliers
-Sector experts: Consulting firms,
-Investors in manufacturing
The following target clients have been identified:
-Manufacturing SMEs and large companies, probably from sectors with high defective rates, or with lower ones but with customers that demand tight tolerances in certain parameters
-Metal processing and manufacturing industries
-Plastics and Rubber Manufacturers
-Automotive, Aeronautic, (Micro) Electronics, Medical Industry
-Companies that implement monitoring systems and/or companies in the field of production optimization
The revenue streams will be:
-Fixed fee to be paid for physical asset purchase, and installation of all hardware and software components integrated in one only system
-Yearly fee for technical support and software updates
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| ETHNIKO KENTRO EREVNAS KAI TECHNOLOGIKIS ANAPTYXIS (CERTH) (Coördinator)
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| ATLANTIS Engineering S.A.
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| BRUNEL UNIVERSITY LONDON
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| CENTER OF TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH AND INNOVATION LTD
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| DATAPIXEL SL
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| DURIT METALURGIA PORTUGUESA DO TUNGSTENIO LDA
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| ECOLE POLYTECHNIQUE FEDERALE DE LAUSANNE
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| HOLONIX SRL
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| INOVAMAIS - SERVICOS DE CONSULTADORIA EM INOVACAO TECNOLOGICA S.A.
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| INTERSEALS SRL
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| MICROSEMI SEMICONDUCTOR LIMITED
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| NUEVA HERRAMIENTA DE CORTE/, S.A.
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| SERVIZI CONFINDUSTRIA BERGAMO SRL
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| SIR SPA