A Generic System Monitoring Technique by Using Similarity Recognition on the Flowing Entity Pattern

Normally, statistic process control (SPC) techniques are applied in monitoring production activities in a manufacturing system. With the help of the computer integrated manufacturing (CIM), the efficiency of data transmission has improved. To examine the fluctuations on a control chart, the SPC tools provide a good platform. However, they are often too dedicated to a specific system type as SPC tools usually devote in well-known parameters such as the dimensions of a work piece, the temperature of an operation process, etc. In this paper, an alternative method is proposed. It is about the studying of the physical entities flowing patterns in a system to obtain an overview of a system instead of measuring specific parameters. This generic monitoring technique can potentially be applied not only in manufacturing systems but any system which contains measurable physical element flows.