Strategy and challenges on remote diagnostics and maintenance for manufacturing equipment

This position paper introduces the remote diagnostics and maintenance system in supporting globally integrated manufacturing activities. R&D strategy and challenges are discussed. The development of a remote diagnostics and maintenance system (RDMS) would provide manufacturers and users with great flexibilities in conducting manufacturing activities. A remote intelligent reasoning agent serves a central intelligence unit for data acquisition, reasoning, remote diagnostics, tele-maintenance, and remote training system. The RDMS will support remote facilities to ensure the performance of manufacturing equipment, quality of operations, and productivity of the plant, in particular, for those facilities located in developing countries