SoA-based production monitoring systems for energy efficiency: A case-study using Ford's POSMon system

The field of production monitoring can be considered as an ideal entry point for SoA-based systems in the production process. A study of a modern, state-of-the-art production monitoring system was performed at Ford Motor Company in order to ascertain the functionality currently offered by the system, as well as the user requirements coming from the system integrators. This paper discusses how the current system could benefit from a SoA-based framework, and how that framework could face the upcoming challenges faced by modern manufacturing. Furthermore, this paper reports on the strategies being used in order to improve energy efficiency in the production line, and the expected benefits that a functional SoA-based monitoring network would bring.