The surface treatment of aircraft parts is controlled by setting reference values for various control parameters in order to maintain the performance and quality of treatment in the manufacturing process. To set these reference values, treatment techniques based on knowledge and experience, skilled chemical analysis techniques required for treatment liquid concentration control and treatment performance control abilities based on the treatment techniques and treatment liquid concentration control are required. Skilled engineers with these techniques have been required conventionally, but due to the decrease in the number of such engineers as a result of the aging of the population of skilled workers, there are concerns about the techniques transfer and stable parts production for future plant operation.
With the background described above, in order to realize appropriate treatment performance and treatment liquid concentration control in a timely manner without relying on skilled human resources, we have developed an in-line analyzer for special surface treatment liquid solutions. We have also built an innovative surface treatment management technology (smart factory) equipped with an IoT system that enables remote monitoring of continuously obtained treatment liquid concentration on the Web and makes time-series analysis possible.
This report introduces an application example of the smart factory.
