Manufacturers Wrestle With Windows
Manufacturers Wrestle With Windows
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I remember an article on adopting Windows NT for real time process control in
an industrial computing magazine. The article started out, "Windows NT can't
do this job, but you will be using it anyway, so this is how to do it".
This was about four years ago.
While the Windows NT juggernaut didn't actually sweep all before it as everyone back then thought it would, a few manufacturers have switched their process control systems to Windows NT. A year ago, at Microsoft's urging, these manufacturers formed an organization called MSMUG (Microsoft Manufacturing User Group). Members of the group have found the rapid pace of changes coming out of Microsoft prevents them from ever getting their production flow stabilized. They have issued a report calling on Microsoft to slow the pace of change. Procter and Gamble Co. of Cincinnati, for instance, has been using Windows NT in its plant for a year. They have needed a significant increase in personnel to handle support and upgrades since the change. This is according to Dave Bauman, technology chief for corporate engineering (and also chairman of MSMUG). Process industry software vendors have indicated they are very happy with the pace of change from Microsoft. Yeah, I bet they are. |
