FA is aiming at total FA more systematized than former partial FA. expecting integrated effect produced by organic combination. For that, great impotance should be attached to technology for system optimization as well as to FA component improvement. This paper introduces the important subjexts of FA system technology, such as the consistency of system compoenents, system engineering technology, data bases, FA computers, networks, production control systems and simulation technology, and Fuji Electric's for FA systems as well.

Automation in discrete fields, such as machining, assembly, inspection, transportation, has rapidly developed since about 1980 forming the parts of FA. This paper describes the hierarchical structure of FA system functions which places the computer in the central position, and the present subjects for FA application and concrete design procedure for system integration. Further, it gives a brief description of necessary conditions for software and hardware materials that compose FA system, and Fuji Electric's FA technology and products which satisfy these conditions.

FA is being introduced into existing factories aiming at automation and rationalization as well as into new factories. From these FA systems expected are the installation of hierarchical distributed systems by linking FA computers and universal PC's, the coexistence of real time processing functions and data management fonctions, easy installation and expansion of systems, etc. Fuji Electric has developed a universal FA computer system, UFAS series, to meet these expectations. This paper introduces the development philosophy, feature, specification, and applications of the UFAS.

The FA, which has been developed up from the bottom on the basis of the rapid progress of hardware technology, and the production planning and control system, which has been developed down from the top aiming at integration, link each other at shopfloor control. The production planning and control system has many problems in support of FA partly because of a little delayed development of software technology. This paper describes the role of production planning and control for FA from the viewpoints of its trends, problems and needs, and in addition, the concept and technology of the systems which has been developed and introduced by Fuji Electric.

The FA system consists of many subsystems, which have their own functions to execute. In order to design the system in which these subsystems link organically to exercise their functions completely, it is necessary to establish methodology for system design so that all members should design with the same design philosophy and design procedure. This paper describes the methodology for factory automation system design, which is established by Fuji Electric with its many years' experience and know-how, from the viewpoints of methodology for system design and that for project management, and also a procedure for system design to make it possible to design high quality systems efficiently in short time.

ΦNET was developed as a general-purpose installation tool for material-flow control systems in the field of FA. This system was prepared by combining network techniques on the basis of Petrinet and production systems using AI technology so as to have both merits. The introduction of ΦNET improves the productivity of material-flow system software and produces flexible control systems. This paper describes an outline of ΦNET, its system configuration and the application examples to actual system.

FMS application to cutting and punching lines in a vendor factory equipped with advanced FMS is introduced here as an example of FMS in sheet-metal works.
The automated handling of pallets and works, introduction of NC machines, automatic warehouses and automatic guided vehicles, and the installation of management systems have realized 24 hours scheduled operation.
This paper gives an outline of the production line, system configuration, and functions, and illustrates the scheduling and the monitoring of the machines by CRT pictures.

An FMS for the processes from printed boards assembly to unit assembly and testing in the control-unit assembly line of a vendor factory is introduced here as an example of FMS application in electronic product assembly workshops.
In this system, automated facilities, such as automatic warehouses, automatic guided vehicles, automatic parts mounting machines and automatic testing equipment, and the computers for their control and management are connected by LAN's to form hierarchical, distributed structure.
The system realized the high flexibility of production lines and accomplished big rationalization.

An FMS for machining lines for circuit breaker parts is introduced here as an example of FMS in machine shops.
The system is hierarchical and distributed with LAN's consisting of the subsystems, such as production control, several line control, warehousing and transportation, tool management and preparation terminals, and many other automated facilities.
This paper gibes an outline of the whole function of the system, the functions distributed among the subsystems, and communication between the subsystems, and the management system of the FMS line, work movement, and unmanned operation in the night as well.

The Automobile industry, a typical mass-production industry, is selecting more flexible production systems to manufacture at just the right time the products which meet diversified needs. Fuji Electric has many accomplishments in the automation and systematization of shaft manufacturing lines, using material handling equipment and FMS loader systems, in whish mechatronics and line controllers are combined organically. This paper introduces mainly FMS application to the integrated production line for crankshafts, and also the trends of FMS application in automobile manufacturing plants.

Aluminum building materials have been diversified in design and color to meet short construction periods and client's needs while high and very high buildings are generalized. Sankyo Aluminum Industry Co., Ltd., a top manufacturer of aluminum building materials, coped with the situation by building a new FA factory. This paper introduces the aim of FA system introduction into the new factory,an outline of the whole factory management system, the feature of small-quantity custom-made multiproduction systems, and the systems for kitting, assembly and storage. In addition, it gives a brief description of the effect of its introduction and future subjects.

Recent diversification of user's needs and fierce competition between manufacturers are pressing the automobile industry for conversion from mass production to small-quantity multiproduction.
The installation of a distributed, hierarchical system is being watched with keen interest as a countermeasure, which enables organic combination of work flow and information flow in workshops utilizing FA computers and LAN's for FA.
This paper describes a distributed, hierarchical production information system in the automobile industry citing an example of its introduction into a body line.

The tire industry was required to have a system for delivery of high-quality, high performance tires just in time, While the kinds of tires increased further, it started developing its own system by improving the former KANBAN-system in order to improve material flow and to reduce stock.
This paper introduces a successful production control system in a tire manufacturing plant, in which information in the processes is unified and made visible not only between processes but also over the whole processes.

There is strong tendency to small-capacity multi-production also in flour mills which is urging FA application forward.
It is necessary as a matter of course to reduce preparation time for changing the wheat kind and to save labor by full automation. In the material adjusting process, it is required to make uniform the moisture contents of material wheat which differ with wheat kinds and to reduce moisture difference between wheat lots when mixed.
This paper introduces the FA system in a flour mill which has been applied to a material adjusting process to solve the abovementioned problems and to take the first step toward FA application to the whole plant.

This paper describes the technical points of an FA system in a feed-mixing plant giving an example which Fuji Electric has recently furnished. They include unmanned product forwarding and material receiving systems utilizing cards, and stock control, automatic mixing and route control for executing production schedules by a few operators. These systems are applicable either to new plants or to the improvement of existing plants.

Data reading devices, such as optical markers, are utilized in factory automation and physical distribution. The increasing functions and intelligence of new systems have come to require increase of data capacity, addition of writing function, use in dusty environment, increase of detectable ranges, etc. To meet these requirements, Fuji Electric has developed such a system that can read/write maximum 800 bits data from 1 m apart without contact using radio frequency. This paper introduces its specification, feature, configuration, functions and applications.