A configurable factory cell controller

The author favours the use of factory systems which are precisely tailored to the needs of the factory management and workers for the production situation they have at that time, but can be adapted by the use of sophisticated tools when circumstances change. The configurable factory cell controller produced by PMA Computer Consultants Ltd. in response to a task set by ICL (UK) Ltd. has allowed such a goal to be achieved. The key criteria for the design were: speed of operation and response; low demands on the host hardware; flexibility of data structures, to ease interfacing; and ease of modification