Rockwell Automation Demonstrates Support for Microsoft Windows DNA for Manufacturing
At the launch of the Microsoft Windows Distributed Internet Applications for Manufacturing (Windows DNA for Manufacturing), Rockwell Automation demonstrated how its software solutions support several components of the DNA-M architecture.
Using a combination of Microsoft and Rockwell Software products, the demonstration simulated a manufacturing facility that receives information from the enterprise, manufactures a product and delivers the product to a user. During the demonstration, Microsoft president Steve Balmer assisted with deploying the simulation of the product delivery by launching t-shirts into the audience from an automated Rockwell Software "shirt cannon," run by Microsoft and Rockwell Software DNA for Manufacturing products.
In November, Rockwell Automation and Microsoft announced a memorandum of understanding aimed at developing and supporting automation software solutions based on the DNA for Manufacturing architecture. The agreement, announced at Rockwell Automation's seventh annual Automation Fair in St. Louis, outlined joint technology, sales, marketing and service initiatives.
"The challenge for manufacturing solution providers is bringing several types of software together to form a complete automation solution," says John McDermott, senior VP of Rockwell Automation's Motion and Information Group. "The application of Windows DNA technologies by an experienced automation supplier like Rockwell Automation will help lower our customers' total cost of ownership, increase flexibility and improve productivity."
Windows DNA is a technology infrastructure that enables independent software vendors (ISVs) and organizations to solve industry-specific challenges, while lowering costs associated with deploying and managing information technology systems. The Windows DNA architecture is a comprehensive framework for new business solutions that combine the benefits of the Internet, client/server and PC models of computing. Representing a unified and integrated approach for building distributed, scalable, multi-tier applications, the Windows DNA framework allows organizations to focus on producing and implementing value-added business solutions rather than systems integration. Windows DNA-M is a framework that allows manufacturing software applications to integrate seamlessly.
"Seamlessly integrating multiple applications into a single distributed enterprisewide solution requires both the right technology and the right experience," says Marcus Schmidt, industry marketing manager for manufacturing at Microsoft.
Rockwell interNet Applications architecture (RNA), is Rockwell Automation's implementation of the Windows DNA architecture. Rockwell Automation's Rockwell Software and Allen-Bradley products use the core enabling Windows DNA technologies and provide a number of the key elements within the Windows DNA framework as they apply to manufacturing. These elements include Line of Business (LOB) applications like SCADA, HMI, batch, MES and ERP Interfaces, PC-based control and communications. Within these offerings, the company actively deploys the technologies that provide the glue between Rockwell Software products and other applications. This deployment goes beyond operating system platform compatibility to include all of the technologies critical to successful DNA implementation.
"Manufacturing companies are constantly striving to increase throughput and quality, while reducing overall costs,'' Schmidt says. ``For this reason, Microsoft is working with companies like Rockwell Automation to increase the value of technology and solve real-world manufacturing problems."
In addition to the demonstration, Rockwell Automation also highlighted actual customer implementation of components of the DNA for Manufacturing architecture. In a breakout session, Clorox Co. discussed how they are supporting the DNA for Manufacturing initiative using Rockwell Software and components of the Windows DNA for Manufacturing architecture.
Rockwell Automation, a business of Rockwell International Corporation brings together leading brands in industrial automation, including Allen-Bradley controls, Reliance Electric power transmission products, Dodge mechanical power transmission components, and Rockwell Software.
Rockwell Software (West Allis, Wis.) is a leader in development and support of software technology that helps automate factories and integrate them with the rest of the enterprise. This includes programming, human-machine interface, process monitoring and control, communications and Internet technologies.