The MAP Pilot Project at IBM Endicott

Endicott's Manufacturing Automation Protocol (MAP) pilot project demonstrates to the industry that IBM is seriously interested in MAP. Two software products, MAP Communication Server (MCS) and MAP Application Server (MAS), were developed in IBM Palo Alto, California, and demonstrated at the November 1985 Autofact show. In Endicott, IBM Series/1's (S/1) monitor various processes, used in the manufacturing of advanced circuit panels (ACP). Ultimately, MAP will significantly reduce the time required to develop software that will connect the programmable logic controllers (PLC) on the manufacturing floor and the IBM S/1's used to monitor the processes. A significant portion of the cost associated with new PLC installations is directly related to software. This cost will essentially be eliminated because MAP provides a standard interface. MAP will allow programmable logic controllers to communicate with each other and other computers directly, without requiring additional software. A broadband cable was installed in November of 1985, allowing both MAP and IBM PC Network to operate on the same physical cable. The MAP network connects the Series 1's on the manufacturing floor, while PC Network links IBM PC's between.