Factory Automation Success Story

Background

As factory automation continues to advance toward smart manufacturing, manufacturers are increasingly required to process data closer to the production line. Real-time analysis, system integration, and AI-based applications are becoming essential to maintain productivity, quality, and operational stability.

In this success story, an electronics manufacturing facility operating multi-stage production lines sought to enhance its factory automation infrastructure. While basic PLC-based automation was already in place, the existing system could not support advanced requirements such as machine vision inspection, real-time equipment monitoring, and edge AI computing.

The customer required an industrial computing solution that could operate reliably in harsh environments while supporting future automation expansion.

Core Products

• AI DIN Rail Box PC with Intel® Core™ i5-1335U – IRDRW500

Main Challenge

The factory faced several challenges in its factory automation upgrade initiative.

Production data was collected across multiple machines but lacked real-time processing capability, limiting its usefulness for immediate decision-making. Manual inspection remained necessary for quality control, increasing labor costs and reducing consistency.

Additionally, space inside control cabinets was limited. Conventional industrial PCs were difficult to install and lacked the flexibility required for modern automation architectures. The solution also needed to operate continuously under elevated temperatures and industrial conditions without compromising system stability.

Solution

To overcome these challenges, the customer selected the Winmate IRDRW500 AI DIN Rail Box PC with Intel® Core™ i5-1335U as the edge computing platform for factory automation.

The IRDRW500 features a compact DIN Rail form factor, allowing easy installation inside existing control cabinets without structural modification. Its fanless, industrial-grade design ensures reliable 24/7 operation in environments exposed to dust, vibration, and heat.

Powered by the 13th Generation Intel® Core™ i5-1335U processor, the system delivers sufficient performance for AI inference, image processing, and real-time data analysis at the edge. Multiple industrial I/O interfaces enable seamless integration with PLCs, industrial cameras, and sensors, ensuring compatibility with existing production equipment.

Application

The IRDRW500 was deployed at critical production points to support multiple factory automation applications.

For quality control, industrial cameras capture product images and transmit them directly to the IRDRW500 for AI-based visual inspection. Image processing and defect detection are performed locally, enabling immediate feedback and reducing dependence on manual inspection.

For equipment monitoring, operational data such as temperature, vibration, and electrical signals are continuously collected and analyzed at the edge. Abnormal patterns can be identified early, supporting predictive maintenance and reducing the risk of unplanned downtime.

The system also enables production data to be shared with higher-level systems, improving visibility and supporting more informed operational decisions.

Benefits

By deploying the Winmate IRDRW500 AI DIN Rail Box PC, the customer significantly improved its factory automation capabilities.

Inspection processes became more consistent and efficient, while manual workload was reduced. Equipment conditions could be monitored in real time, helping maintenance teams respond proactively rather than reactively. The compact DIN Rail design simplified installation and allowed greater flexibility for future system expansion.

Most importantly, the factory established a scalable edge computing architecture that supports long-term automation and AI-driven manufacturing initiatives.

Conclusion

This success story highlights how a compact, industrial-grade edge AI platform can play a key role in modern factory automation. With its reliable design, flexible installation, and AI-ready performance, the Winmate IRDRW500 AI DIN Rail Box PC provides a strong foundation for manufacturers seeking to advance toward smart factory implementation.

For more information about Winmate, please visit our website or contact Winmate.