Digitally Connecting Machines in Mettler Toledo Shopfloor

With the global shift towards Industry 4.0 and smart manufacturing, there is a growing need for more interconnected and intelligent production systems to connect and integrate everything smoothly.
This thesis focuses on developing a solution to integrate into the Lean Manufacturing Execution System (LMES) at Mettler-Toledo, aiming to make it a centralized hub for efficient data transmission and analysis in smart manufacturing practices. It addresses the challenge of standardized device connectivity in shopfloor environments, which currently lack a unified approach, leading to operational inefficiencies.
A variety of architectures and communication protocols were explored, with MQTT emerging as the optimal choice due to its lightweight and efficient characteristics for the AUBO i7 cobot proof-of-concept at Mettler-Toledo. The project demonstrates the successful development and integration of an MQTT client prototype into LMES, enhancing its data handling capabilities and aligning with modern IoT practices. Considering the complex nature of industrial environments, the implementation of MQTT within the LMES framework represents a shift towards more agile and responsive manufacturing processes.
The thesis lays the groundwork for future innovations in industrial device interconnectivity, highlighting the importance of flexibility, scalability, and strategic architecture and protocol selection in industrial automation. The outcomes of this project serve as a steppingstone towards a more interconnected and intelligent industrial future, paving the way for further technological advancements in the field.