BMW group goes global on single plant visualisation system

The automotive giant says it wanted a universal solution to run everything from plant overview pictures and operator displays to its alarm management system. Experience to date, it says, shows that the approach increases quality and also productivity and OEE (overall equipment effectiveness). “This is another milestone in our successful business development,” says Jürgen Schrödel, Copa-Data managing director. And he adds that standardisation will also allow the greatest possible internal synergy between BMW’s production operations. As ZenOn 6.20 can be used on all Windows operating system and platforms, from Windows CE to Windows Server 2003, BMW will be able to achieve seamless information flows throughout its company network, connecting relevant production operations wherever they are. At the machinery, plant and handling equipment level, for example, BMW specifies a B&R Windows CE platform. ZenOn facilities then enable local operator terminals to be defined as network projects, providing robust access to plant-wide information via its high-capacity client/server architecture and seamless redundancy. Integrated sequence chain diagnostics also provide BMW with information like control status of a production sequence alongside graphical representations and predefined message texts if things go wrong – with heuristics automatically informing operators and management of probable reasons, and simplifying and speeding up maintenance to improve productivity.