Omron Corp and Fujitsu Ltd joined forces to announce that they had successfully connected Fujtisu factory automation personal computers with Omron’s programmable controllers under the mini-MAP protocol FAIS, Factory Automation Interconnection Standard that is being fostered by the Ministry of International Trade & Industry: the Japanese stance in this area is that full Manufacturing Automation Protocol is too heavy for relatively cheap devices such as programmable controllers and for three years from 1987, MITI sponsored a research and development project, the FAIS Networking Project, with the aim of perfecting and disseminating the FAIS communications protocol in industry; 27 companies participated in the project which was run by the International Robot Factory Automation Technical Centre; Omron markets the Sysmac programmable controller and the Fastar factory automation computer, as well as interconnect equipment and support boards for FAIS connection, while Fujitsu markets the MMS Manufacturing Message Specification and MAP interface that conforms to FAIS specifications, for use with its Compact A and FMR-70/FA micros in its networked Computer-Integrated Manufacturing line.
