Smart factory is a reference to Industry 4.0, the connection of things, including machine tools, to the ‘Internet of Things’ (IoT), allowing equipment-to-equipment communication, data analysis and related action.
Smart Factories use technologies that connect every device in a factory via the Internet, offering shop equipment information and sensor data analysis in real time in the cloud; and offering production management and quality control. But some factories and infrastructure, such as power plants, have been cyber-attacked and the security of control systems has become one of the most urgent issues today, says DMG Mori.
The agreement between DMG Mori and Microsoft will see the pair collaborate to tackle various issues, including security measures for control systems, by making the most of the know-how each of the two companies has. Microsoft Japan offers a wide range of the IoT bases, from the operation system for embedded devices (Windows 10-based operating system, ‘Windows 10 IoT Family’) to the public cloud platform (Microsoft Azure), and provides advanced cyber security measures.
The technological cooperation for implementation of ‘Industry 4.0’ and ‘Smart Factory’ includes the following:
Security
- Security of products that use Windows, such as CELOS （machine tool console）
- Safe data transfer to aggregate sensor information in the cloud
- Data handling in the cloud
Data operation in the cloud and application of data
- Proactive utilisation of data for preventive maintenance and other purposes, based on analyses of the collected data
- Technological examination for new business models
Utilisation of advanced IT technologies
- Utilisation of data for operators’ safety
- Improvement of machine operators’ efficiency by use of virtual reality/wearable devices.
