From a factory automation perspective, photovoltaic manufacturing is a blend of semiconductor, electronics, and general assembly manufacturing. Material flow is typically a single line or a series of parallel lines with few, if any, diversion points. While MES requirements, such as routing, scheduling, recipe management, and BOM management, are relatively simple, other MES requirements, such as WIP tracking, equipment performance tracking, and asset management, are critical. Equipment connectivity and data collection are a mix of semiconductor and discrete manufacturing, which are driven by the equipment communication protocols including SECS/GEM and OPC. In summary, some MES requirements are relatively simple while the equipment connectivity, process monitoring, and product monitoring requirements are complex.

This combination of requirements does not align well with the products available on the market. Not one of today's MES or SCADA/HMI products can handle the mix of automation needs without tremendous amounts of customization and intricate integration; the customer ends up with an expensive and bulky system that contains a lot of custom code for automation. The typical time lines of PV Solar companies do not allow for long and involved customization and integration cycles; they need solutions that are readily tailored to each unique manufacturing environment. In addition, many PV manufacturers are start-ups and, as such, have limited capital; there are few second chances as they transition from an investment capital spending organization to a revenue generating and profitable company. They must get it right the first time.

To address these specific needs around scalability, delivery and cost, PEER Group is offering our PEERFactory framework of MES components for the emerging PV Solar industry.