Vision • Experience • Commitment

BackgroundBackground

Background

Alan Miles has provided a wide range of computer related products and services as an innovator, developer and IT Manager for small to medium businesses.
Automated WeighingAutomated Weighing

Automated Weighing

Automated Weighing - various applications in dairy and meat industries. Automated milk powder weighing and packaging applications. Convenient weighing, grading and record keeping in meat processing.
BizTermBizTerm

BizTerm

BizTerm™ is a telnet terminal emulator compatible with Windows 7 specifically designed for Pick Systems® D3® multidimensional database.
CrusaderCrusader

Crusader

Crusader is an integrated Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and financial management solution.
Dough ConsistencyDough Consistency

Dough Consistency

Dough Consistency Controller that automatically adjusts for water content in bread dough.
EDI ServerEDI Server

EDI Server

Business to business electronic document exchange including e-mailed purchase orders, invoices and statements, and various graphically printed documents.
Email ServicesEmail Services

Email Services

An e-mail services facility that allows e-mails to be scheduled on a regular basis, to deliver a wide range of reports.
Enterprise ExplorerEnterprise Explorer

Enterprise Explorer

Enterprise Explorer™ is a business intelligence tool that is intuitive, flexible, comprehensive, and quick to use.
Environmental MonitorEnvironmental Monitor

Environmental Monitor

Environmental Monitoring used in coolstores and greenhouses.
MVMirrorMVMirror

MVMirror

MVMirror is a real-time bidirectional gateway between D3 and SQL Server databases.
Older ProjectsOlder Projects

Older Projects

Summary of early projects and clients
Production MonitoringProduction Monitoring

Production Monitoring

This system was an early and very successful attempt to automate specific manufacturing business processes and monitoring not just the rate of production, but the reasons for and period of down-time.
Timber TreatmentTimber Treatment

Timber Treatment

Automation of a timber pressure treatment plant for the preservation of timber.
Energy ManagementEnergy Management

Energy Management

Automated control of energy usage to reduce cost while maintaining asdequate environmental conditions and production processes.
Energy Management Brochure 1Energy Management Brochure 1

Energy Management Brochure 1

Energy Management Brochure Page 1
Energy Management Brochure 2Energy Management Brochure 2

Energy Management Brochure 2

Energy Management Brochure Page 2
Energy Management Brochure 3Energy Management Brochure 3

Energy Management Brochure 3

Energy Management Brochure Page 3
Energy Management Brochure 4Energy Management Brochure 4

Energy Management Brochure 4

Energy Management Brochure Page 4
Energy Management Brochure 5Energy Management Brochure 5

Energy Management Brochure 5

Energy Management Brochure Page 5
Energy Management Brochure 6Energy Management Brochure 6

Energy Management Brochure 6

Energy Management Brochure Page 6

Dough Consistency

 

This was an adaptive controller in which a mathematical approach was taken to analyse the process' parameters in real time, then apply an adaptive correction to the dough's water content.  The controller monitored the results of its corrections and “learned” from experience how to calculate the required correction - in effect a form of "artificial intelligence".

To build this controller, I was introduced to the operation and management of a modern bakery.  As a result of implementing this system and the printed graphical reports it produced, the client (Quality Bakers) and I discovered the original cause of their consistency problems was due to seasonal and batch blending variations in the quality of flour delivered to the bakeries.

Original brochure dating from 1984

 

 

The amount of power required to drive the mixer was used as a direct measure of dough consistency.  This then enabled a correction to be made by the addition of water during mixing to bring an intentionally "tight" dough to a satisfactory consistency with a closer, more reliable tolerance than had ever previously been achieved.

The controller would take a large number of readings (or samples) for mathematical analysis to determine the amount of additional water required to correct the consistency of the dough.  This period was referred to as the assessment time. (See diagram below).  At the end of this period, water was added and the controller then continued to take readings until the mixer stopped.  These additional readings were then used to mathematically calculate any adjustments necessary to be made to the reference data stored in its memory.  All relevant data derived was available for display (or print­ out) on command;

Example of Dough Consistency Controller graph produced

 

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