Smart Factory, Non-Stop Network: Hitachi Builds a High-Performing Factory Network in Thailand
Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation gets a reliable and high-performing solution featuring AMF and AWC for its brand new Smart Factory in Thailand.
Established in 1947, Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation (HHTC) is a subsidiary company of the Hitachi group. HHTC have developed a brand-new business model called “Smart Factory”, in which multiple Japanese-owned small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) share a factory overseas. HHTC launched Smart Factory as a Service (SFaaS) in 2018, utilizing its abundant experience of both overseas manufacturing, and advanced IT and Internet of Things (IoT) technologies.
The Smart Factory concept enables Japanese companies—without the local resources or the necessary know-how—to successfully do business abroad. Each SME manufactures its own products using shared resources and smart technologies, and costs are kept low thanks to a small capital investment and shared ongoing costs.
Smart Factories allow Japanese SMEs to make use of Hitachi’s cutting-edge technologies. Production status is recorded via multiple cameras and sensors, and comprehensive real-time camera surveillance offers monitoring of the overseas factory in the Japanese office. Japanese staff can give factory staff real-time support and direction.
Bringing a Smart Factory Concept to Reality
The Smart Factory was set up in Bangkok, Thailand as a Proof of Concept (PoC) Field Trial Project. The PoC Field Trial Project aims to study the commercial feasibility of the shared factory business, and has been certified as a “Project for Nurturing New Industries in ASEAN and Japan by the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO).” HHTC commenced the PoC Field Trial Project in October 2017.
The Smart Factory needed a network infrastructure that could support both wireless LAN for the camera surveillance system, and wired LAN for monitoring displays, cameras and other IoT devices. It had to be extremely reliable—providing non-stop production and monitoring—and very high-performing to support the numerous technologies required for a Smart Factory.
In addition, the entire wired and wireless network infrastructure had to have centralized management, to enable support staff to easily monitor the network, and manage the switches, firewalls, wireless Access Points (APs), cameras and other devices that make up this converged IT solution.
HHTC considered proposals from multiple vendors, and after careful consideration selected Allied Telesis products and solutions.
A Whole New Network
Allied Telesis designed and implemented a brand-new network for the Smart Factory, with advanced switches and wireless APs for seamless connectivity, and a Unified Threat Management (UTM) firewall that enables secure Internet access, while protecting against cyber threats.
The new network features Allied Telesis Autonomous Management Framework™ (AMF) and Autonomous Wave Control (AWC), for centralized management and automation of their wired and wireless devices. Vista Manager EX provides single-pane-of-glass visibility and control for the new AMF and AWC network. Lastly, Hosted Services delivers network automation as a service—for reduced total cost of ownership, and improved performance, reliability and security.
Cutting Edge Service & Support
Highly reliable products and solutions support the Smart Factory network infrastructure. The Smart Factory now enjoys a cutting-edge combination of the latest technologies providing non-stop access to all their online systems, along with simplified and automated network management. The Japan office enjoys seamless and secure network access to surveillance footage and monitoring data.
Together, Vista Manager EX, AMF and AWC have delivered a solution that has eased the burden of administration, and made up-to-the-minute network management information always available. This has reduced the time and cost of managing the new network.
The cost-effective new solution has met all of HHTC’s requirements and is prepared for the future adoption of any new technologies.
Allied Telesis continues to support the smart factory with cutting-edge service and support.
