FCS: Pioneering the Future of Smart Machinery and Smart Manufacturing

Figure: Alan Wang, CEO of Fu Chun Shin Machinery Manufacture Co., Ltd.

Driven by the twin axes of **"Industry 4.0"** and **"Decarbonization Goals,"** the Taiwanese injection molding industry is undergoing a profound transformation toward intelligence and green practices. The overall trend focuses on digitizing, networking, and smartening production, striving to transform traditional factories into intelligent facilities capable of self-regulation and decision-making. The technology development trends in Taiwan's industry emphasize the following:

• Firstly, **injection molding machines and auxiliary equipment are networked through the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT)**, becoming integral parts of the overall manufacturing system. Sensors installed on the equipment collect real-time data on cavity pressure, energy consumption, output, and defect rates. Through AI and Big Data analysis, this achieves transparent traceability, MES monitoring, and lateral decision support.
• Secondly, **smart production lines facilitate vertical integration**, connecting the entire process—from order placement, scheduling, material feeding, injection, post-processing, quality control, to logistics—on a single digital platform. The system incorporates AI modules to optimize processes and quality, allowing managers to monitor conditions 24/7 and respond quickly.
• Finally, **predictive maintenance enhances overall efficiency**. By centrally monitoring and analyzing the status of injection molding machines, optimal maintenance times are scheduled to prevent simultaneous failures. Future scheduling can dynamically adjust based on delivery deadlines and equipment health, ensuring efficiency and stability.

Facing labor shortages, Taiwanese enterprises must rely on digital and AI technologies to reduce dependence on manual experience and bridge the technical talent gap.

I. Transitioning from Equipment Manufacturer to Intelligent Manufacturing Leader

FCS's transformation extends beyond equipment upgrades, encompassing comprehensive innovation in system architecture, data integration, sensing applications, and AI algorithms, demonstrating strong system integration capabilities. Through internal restructuring and industry-academia collaboration, FCS successfully created the **"iMF 4.0 Intelligent Manufacturing Platform,"** assisting clients in realizing data-driven smart factories.

This platform is divided into four core modules: Smart Machinery, Smart Peripherals, Smart Manufacturing, and Smart Management, with "Smart Management" integrating digital systems like MES, WMS, and SRM, acting as the central nervous system of the smart factory.

II. FCS「iMF 4.0 Intelligent Manufacturing」Platform's Four Architectures

Smart Machinery｜Smart Sensing and Self-Optimization

FCS injection molding machines feature built-in sensors that combine with AI algorithms to automatically identify melt viscosity variations and perform parameter compensation, stabilizing product quality and reducing setup time and cost. Future development will advance equipment prognostics, effectively preventing failures, increasing utilization rate, and improving maintenance efficiency.

Smart Peripherals｜Equipment Networking and Coordinated Control

Injection machines are integrated with peripheral equipment such as mold temperature controllers, material feeders, chillers, and robotic arms via communication protocols like Modbus, OPC UA, and EUROMAP 77, controlled uniformly by the main controller. A representative application is the **"Smart Flow Balancing Module,"** which compensates for melt flow differences among multiple cavities in real-time, improving filling uniformity and yield. All equipment statuses can also be monitored simultaneously on the HMI, increasing efficiency and troubleshooting speed.

Smart Manufacturing｜Real-Time Process Monitoring and Quality Management

This module integrates machine data and sensor signals to build a **"Product Traceability Record"** and an **"Intelligent Quality Identification Model."** The former records process parameters, materials, and environmental information for every shot cycle, satisfying high traceability demands; the latter establishes good-product standards through feature comparison, automatically identifying good parts and defects, and can be combined with robotic arms for automatic rejection, achieving unmanned quality inspection and intelligent control.

Smart Management｜Data Integration and Production Decision Core

It integrates **OEE Management**, using metrics like availability, performance, and quality rate to monitor production line status and analyze bottlenecks. It features real-time work order dispatch, scheduling, anomaly analysis, trend monitoring, and remote decision support. Furthermore, FCS continues to expand the platform to include WMS, SRM, EMS, and EDI, creating a unified smart factory.

III. Strategies and Achievements in Promoting Intelligent Manufacturing

Conclusion｜Building a Leading Brand in the Smart Molding Industry

Rooted in expertise in injection molding, FCS integrates software, sensing, cloud, and AI to build the iMF 4.0 platform, transforming into an **"Integrated Solution Provider for Intelligent Manufacturing."** Facing the waves of Industry 4.0 and ESG, FCS leverages the platform as its core and technology as its engine to create a high value-added, low-carbon, and scalable smart molding industry ecosystem, generating new value for global customers.