Custom Control Panels
Command panels on request for specific applications
Instrumentation systems are frequently monitored, controlled and protected using local control panels (LCPs).
Local control panels are also used near equipment for local control and maintenance. Several local electrical control panels may be required for complex machines or installations during each stage of manufacture. Each panel can have a varied set of commands, depending on how each production station is configured.
Remote control equipment (PLC or Remote I/O) can also be integrated into local control panels. The number of cables from field devices back to the main panel will be reduced as a result. In addition, they are used for production-level control signaling systems to allow the line operator to control the process on a component-by-component basis as needed.
Command panels on request for specific applications
Following hierarchy apply commonly in industry
Field level sensors – PLC- SCADA- MES - ERP
Transducers, Sensors and Signals at field level
The initial and most basic level of industrial automation is this. It includes field devices like switches, motors, valves, actuators, instruments, and other machinery. It may alternatively be described as a field layer.
Controlling the inputs and outputs is the primary objective of industrial automation, and effective control of them requires familiarity with them. You cannot advance to the subsequent level of programming if you do not understand what a sensor will perform or how a motor will operate.
Basically, it makes no sense to conduct advanced levels of programming if you are unfamiliar with hardware input and output regulating; you also have no idea what a lower level feature does.
These devices transmit and receive data at the subsequent level. The conveyance of data may take the form of communication, digital data, or both.
Control
Starting with this point, controlling begins. Both PLCs and PIDs are included. You have the data from a sensor, and you want to use it to operate a motor.
To achieve this, a controller program must be created that will accept hardware sensor input and control hardware motor output appropriately.
A program will be built to manipulate the inputs and outputs in accordance with the needs of the controller, which is nothing more than a PLC.
In addition to PLC, a PID controller may also be employed on occasion to cut costs. It is merely a tiny controller that uses PID computations to modulate the output based on the input received.
The PID controller's one drawback is that it is an internally programmed device that cannot be altered. Only the manufacturer can modify its program.
However, using PLC, you may design the entire program to meet your needs. This level, which is also known as the control stage, uses a communication form to transfer data to the following level.
SCADA
Consider a plant with ten PLCs. You want to be able to oversee and manage them while working from a single remote office. All of these PLCs must communicate and network to accomplish this.
In essence, this level's function is to combine all of a plant's controllers onto a single platform. This makes it easier to simultaneously monitor and control the entire system. SCADA is in charge of this. The audit trail allows you to visualize the entire process, view alarms, generate reports, execute batches, and manage the operator's actions.
Understanding the various communication topologies used with PLC systems is necessary to integrate SCADA throughout the entire network. IPCs or desktop PCs are used to run SCADA (Industrial PC).
Operations and Planning - MES
In a plant, this level is utilized for planning and operations. It is a computer management system that has the ability to watch over and administer numerous SCADA systems.
If a plant has a number of processes, and it is necessary to oversee the entire production process from beginning to end than MES can carry out this task (Manufacturing Execution System). With this, the user may organize his tasks and regulate production information and procedures.
Enterprise-level operations, logistics, and business planning
A corporation has numerous departments, including those for sales, purchasing, human resources, finance, logistics, production, inventory control, etc. Although it will produce the appropriate results if all post-manufacturing operations (MES) are carried out manually, it will be quite slow.
Because many people will have to wait for other department employees to complete their next task, the output pace will fall. ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) enters the scene in this situation.
All office procedures can be easily automated with the use of ERP, a computer-based automation technique.


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