Is RSS Applicable in Manufacturing?

RSS, short for 'Really Simple Syndication,' is an XML-based method for any Web site or FTP site to become an information publisher. RSS represents a way to select and collect Web accessible information—with applications extendable to manufacturing tasks. Lack of a common standard for RSS readers has slowed adoption of the RSS method, however most RSS readers will accept all available standards. Thus, manufacturing systems are able to use RSS.

XML file format

RSS is not a Web-publishing system, but a format for an XML file. The publisher puts information on an accessible Web (or FTP) site and updates one XML RSS file, called an RSS stream. The top-level element in an RSS stream file is a channel, which defines an area of interest. Channels can be identified with production areas, such as separate RSS stream files for packaging, main production, dispensing, filling, and assembly. Channels also can be defined for specific manufacturing report categories, such as variance, utilization, and throughput. If a report fits into multiple channels, then different RSS streams can point to the same report.

Each channel contains items, which usually include at least a title, description, publication date, and link. The link is a URL that points to the complete Web page, document, or file. An RSS publisher places these files in an accessible area and then updates the RSS stream with a new item pointing to the file.

Subscribe to streams

Most manufacturing report packages can generate XML files and formatted reports. Automatically generated reports can be saved in an accessible location, such as an FTP directory. The same report package can generate a summary XML document, containing an 'item' description of the report—which can contain pertinent summary or exception data. A simple application would then read the generated items and update the RSS stream file.

RSS allows each production manager to 'subscribe' to streams important to him or her and setup key word filters to select only the data needed. RSS provides a way to change our patterns for finding important and pertinent information contained in manufacturing system reports.