Current and future Java technology for manufacturing industry

The use of Java technology for all kinds of applications on PCs, workstations and servers has started to spread rapidly, and is also starting to be applied to various embedded devices, like STBs (set-top boxes), PDAs (personal digital assistants) and telephones. The applications primarily targeted are those for personal productivity and amusement, and there are arguments as to whether Java is suitable for industrial applications for performance and reliability reasons. Java applications for industries are currently limited to remote monitoring and maintenance from a desktop browser via an intranet or the Internet. Some examples of applications of Java in the manufacturing industry are provided, with an evaluation of their effectiveness, the issues involved and the emerging opportunities, as well as some mention of current standardization activities, such as Real-time Java and the Java-based Industrial Monitoring Framework. Lastly, this paper proposes future applications of Java mobile agents for the manufacturing industry