The Technical Basis of Cloud Manufacturing

Cloud computing, as a new service-oriented computing model, is emerging and gradually maturing in the industry in recent years [8][9]. Cloud computing is a new model of Internet-based computing, where a large number of highly virtualized computing resources are managed through a cloud computing platform to form a large pool of resources that are used to unify the provision of services, and to provide on-demand computing services for individual and business users through heterogeneous and autonomous forms of services on the Internet [9]. The operation mode of cloud computing is that professional computer and network companies (i.e., third-party service operators) to build computer storage, computing service centers, the virtualization of resources for the "cloud" and then centralized storage, to provide services for users. It is not difficult to deduce that, if the "manufacturing resources" instead of "computing resources", cloud computing computing model and operating model will provide a feasible new way of thinking for the manufacturing industry information technology to service, high efficiency and low consumption.

Wang Jian, vice president of UFIDA Software Corporation and general manager of the Manufacturing Industry Solutions Division, delivered a speech titled "Cloud Manufacturing - Technological Innovation for China's Manufacturing". In his speech, Mr. Wang said that the creation of cloud manufacturing has benefited from the continuous development of the traditional IT industry on one hand, and the continuous upgrading of the traditional manufacturing industry on the other hand, while integrating the most popular cloud computing; it can be regarded as a fusion of information technology, manufacturing technology, Internet of Things (IoT) technology, and logistic technology, and so on.

When it comes to the definition of cloud manufacturing, Wang Jian believes that cloud manufacturing is a manufacturing model that is geared towards the region, industry or enterprise, and with the help of advanced information technology, realizes the integration of the relevant resources in the whole life cycle of product development, production, sales, and use, and provides standard, standardized, and ****enjoyable manufacturing services. It is the product of cross-fertilization of advanced information technology, manufacturing technology and emerging Internet of Things (IoT) technology, which is the embodiment of the concept of "manufacturing as a service".  Subsequently, Wang Jian y analyzed the "cloud manufacturing system architecture" and "cloud manufacturing application model and direction", for the guests on the scene to elaborate the characteristics and key technologies of cloud manufacturing. Attendees have expressed great benefits through the on-site microblogging message, and also showed great interest in UFIDA's manufacturing-related solutions.

In order to enhance the interactivity of the conference, the conference site broke the previous guest speaker-oriented design, but launched the "integrated application innovation of Chinese manufacturing" and "e-commerce innovation of Chinese manufacturing" two on-site guest dialog sessions, through the "UFIDA" experts and many enterprise CIOs, the "UFIDA" experts and the "UFIDA" guests. Instead, two live guest dialogue sessions, "Integrated Application Innovation in Chinese Manufacturing" and "E-Commerce Innovation in Chinese Manufacturing", were introduced, which presented a sumptuous informatization feast for the guests through the on-site interactions between UFIDA experts and CIOs of many enterprises.

The topic of "Integrated Application Innovation in Chinese Manufacturing" was hosted by Zhang Wei, Assistant President and Director of Application Technology of UFIDA Software Corporation, with Dr. Lei Wanyun, Head of Informatization Expert Group and Director of the Information Department of China Pharmaceutical Group, Xu Shoufu, Director of the Information Department of Huatai Group, Wang Xiaofei, Director of the Information Center of Nanjing XIV Research Institute, and Kunming CIOs. Wang Xiaofei, Director of Information Center, and Shi Zhan, Director of Purchasing Department, Kunming China Railway Large Road Maintenance Machinery Group Co.

The discussion on "E-commerce Innovation in Chinese Manufacturing" was moderated by Xie Maolong, Senior E-commerce Specialist of UFIDA Software, with Dai Hexiang, Deputy General Manager of Hebei Xingtai Iron & Steel Company, Fu Yu, Director of Information of Wengfu Group, Liguang, CIO of Zhejiang Bain-Marie Science, Industry and Trade Co. Technology Co., Ltd. CIO Liu Zhiqiang, Guangdong Daye Motorcycle Technology Co., Ltd. CIO Liang Yubing and five other CIOs participated.

Numerous CIOs shared the informationization construction history of their own enterprises and the experience they have accumulated, and at the same time discussed the two themes of "integrated application innovation" and "e-commerce innovation" enthusiastically. The guests expressed that through such a kind of on-site interaction, they were able to have a more comprehensive and in-depth understanding of the informationization construction experience of advanced enterprises, and responded positively to the topics discussed on the stage through microblogging.

As an important part of the 2011 UFIDA Technology Conference, the Manufacturing Special Session with the theme of "Cloud Manufacturing - Innovative Practices in Chinese Manufacturing" was a wonderful event: the scene was hot, the seats were full, and many guests actively interacted with UFIDA through microblogging, with the Vice President of UFIDA, Wang Wang, actively participating in the interactive session. The cloud manufacturing concept shared by UFIDA Vice President Wang Jian and the on-site dialogues hosted by other UFIDA experts were positively responded to and highly evaluated by the guests. ...... Many of the guests expressed their hope to have more opportunities to have in-depth exchanges with many experts and enterprise CIOs.

Manufacturing resources include all types of manufacturing equipment (such as machine tools, machining centers, computing equipment) and various models, data, software, domain knowledge and so on in the manufacturing process during the whole life cycle of manufacturing activities. In order to realize the virtualization, optimal scheduling and collaborative interconnection of manufacturing resources, we can also integrate new technologies such as semantic Web [10], embedded system technology [11], Internet of Things [12], and high-performance computing. The development of Semantic Web lays the foundation for knowledge-based intelligent computing. The rapid development of embedded technology provides enabling technology for realizing intelligent access to terminal physical devices. The rapid development of Internet of Things (IoT) technology supported by RFID [13], sensors and other technologies is expected to promote the interconnection between various types of objects. In addition, the application of high-performance computers and the development of high-performance computing technology [14] for solving complex manufacturing problems and carry out large-scale collaborative manufacturing also provides the possibility.

It is in this context that the concept of "cloud manufacturing" emerged, which is still little studied internationally. Therefore, the current research and application of cloud manufacturing there is a huge space for development, but also the next 5-10 years of China's manufacturing breakthrough development needs to be resolved major issues.