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End-to-End Production Automation in Manufacturing Plants
š Case Study: End-to-End Production Automation in Manufacturing Plants
Sector: Industrial Manufacturing
Role: Lead Embedded Systems Engineer
Client Impact: 300% output growth, multi-million pesos profits and cost savings
šÆ Objective
To eliminate critical production bottlenecks and unlock scalable output for a major manufacturing client.
ā ļø Challenge
The client faced significant constraints across four automated production lines:
- Inaccurate raw material dispensing
- Rigid, high-cost PLC-based systems
- Complex interfaces unsuited for non-technical operators
These problems limited production throughput, reduced quality, and directly impacted profitability.
š§© Solution
As the sole embedded developer, I designed and delivered a full-stack IoT automation systemācustom-built from firmware to frontend.
System Features:
- Custom Embedded Backend (C): Low-level, real-time control logic using Unix domain sockets and TCP/UDP for hardware communication.
- Proprietary Hardware: I engineered and sourced custom PCBs, replacing expensive PLCs with cost-effective in-house alternatives.
- Novel Integral Algorithm: Solved a complex weighing challenge, enabling multi-line, simultaneous dispensing with high precision.
- User-Centric SCADA Interface: Built a modern, intuitive UI for real-time monitoring, accessible even to users with no prior computer experience.
- Full Software Stack: Integrated scheduling (CRON), database (MySQL), firmware control, and operator visualization into one seamless, fault-tolerant platform.
š Impact
- š Production throughput increased by over 300%
- šÆ Achieved near-perfect dispensing accuracy
- š° Tens of millions in new profits generated
- š Tens of millions in operational savings realized
- āļø Zero critical failures over 5+ years in production
This solution didnāt just optimize a processāit reshaped the client's entire production model.
š§Ŗ Technical Stack
Layer | Technology Used |
---|---|
Backend & Firmware | C/C++, Python, QCGI |
Communication | Unix Domain Sockets, TCP/UDP, WebSockets |
Monitoring UI | JavaScript, QCGI.js, Chart.js |
Database | MySQL |
Hardware | Custom PCB Design, Physical Installation |
Environment | Linux, CRON, VIM, SSH, RTOS |
š§ Key Takeaways
Great automation isnāt just about precisionāitās about designing systems that are scalable, intuitive, and human-friendly. I merged deep hardware control with UI empathy, delivering a platform that empowered non-technical operators while achieving technical excellence.