ABSTRACT
This chapter introduces the current technology as well as the main components that support the control functions typically needed in any industrial application. Modern control architectures allow cost-effective open control systems for batch, semicontinuous, and continuous applications. The resulting system can be segmented into a series of hardware-interconnected component platforms namely the supervisory, controller, and communication environments connected through open network standards. The OPC (Open Platform Communications), as the new standard that provides integration of control systems with other systems, is also briefly introduced as a tool for total open system manufacturing. Finally, as practical examples, the implementation of such computer control system architectures on a number of pilot-scale facilities is also demonstrated. Furthermore, the impact of recent advances of digital technologies on transforming the manufacturing industry towards smart process operation is discussed.
