How Manufacturing companies (small, medium and enterprise), whether discrete or continuous can leverage AI, including Generative AI in a world being disrupted by AI.
From Simulation to Reality: The Roots of TAAIB – vCPPS Platform
In the early 1990s, while pursuing a Master of Science degree in Computer Integrated Manufacturing Engineering (CIM) at Loughborough University, Dr. Treasure (Founder & CEO of TCOMT Corporation - dba - Tiemac) was introduced to the early promise of Artificial Intelligence (AI). At the time, AI was grouped with fuzzy logic and expert systems—more academic than operational, and certainly not production-grade. But one idea captivated him: the ability to convert data into decision-ready insight that could bridge the gap between technical automation and human understanding.
That idea became the seed.
Driven by this fascination, he approached Professor David Williams, then Head of the Department of Manufacturing Engineering and one of the university's most respected senior professors. Dr. Treasure proposed a novel thesis project—one grounded not in theory but in the day-to-day reality of manufacturing floors. With Professor David Williams' support, Dr. Treasure became one of the first MSc students to be awarded an internship as part of the CIM program. He was placed at Carnaud Metal Box in Wantage, Oxford, where he built simulation models to optimize metal can production across their global operations. That project received his highest grade and became a defining academic and professional moment for him.
Upon graduating, Dr, Treasure applied those insights to the cement manufacturing sector in Jamaica. His statistical and simulation work on kiln optimization led to three outcomes: (1) a published case study used by the University of Miami, (2) the implementation of an expert system purchased from FLS Automation in Maryland, and (3) a career opportunity as technical support lead for FLS Automation across the Americas.
FLS Automation, at the time, was a subsidiary of FL Smidth—a Danish multinational that today stands as one of the largest global suppliers of equipment, services, and AI-enabled process solutions for the cement and mining industries. The expert system solution Dr. Treasure helped implement became part of the foundational layer of FL Smidth’s advanced process and AI control offerings, influencing how modern cement kilns are automated and optimized today.
Along this journey, Dr. Treasure earned an MBA from Texas A&M University and a Doctorate in Systems and Engineering from The George Washington University. Both degrees—pursued in the years following his early engineering and automation work—have served to deepen and expand the multidisciplinary thinking that now underpins the TAAIB – vCPPS Platform.
Fast forward to 2022—AI is no longer fringe. It is foundational.
And that brings us to today.
The TAAIB – vCPPS Platform: An AI-Native Digital Twin for Smart Manufacturing
The TAAIB – vCPPS (Virtual Cyber-Physical Production System) Platform is the realization of three decades of cumulative learning—a fusion of academic rigor, practical experience, and cutting-edge technology. Designed for manufacturers of all sizes and sectors, the platform offers a frictionless on-ramp into Industry 4.0, driven by AI-native simulation, no-code PLC logic, and cloud-based scalability.
Key Innovations Include:
- Digital Twins with Real-World Machine Behavior: Realistic modeling using Behavior Profiles (BPs) and Advanced Machine Behavior Profiles (AMBPs) for sensors and actuators, enabling time-synchronized simulations with deterministic behavior.
- No-Code PLC Logic Authoring: Operators can generate complex event-based logic using sliders, dropdowns, and toggles via UIBuilder, augmented by Generative AI through xAI APIs.
- AI Integration and Model Training: Built-in support for predictive maintenance, anomaly detection, optimization, and reinforcement learning via Azure Databricks and InfluxDB/MongoDB.
- Full Simulation Stack: 3D visualization with OIP modules, 2D dashboards with Grafana, MQTT/OPC-UA connectivity, and AAS-compliant digital twin structures via BaSyx.
- Security and Scalability: Secure by design (Keycloak, Azure Defender, MQTT encryption), and scalable from pilot to enterprise via containerized microservices on Azure.
How TAAIB – vCPPS Platform Compares to Major Players
When benchmarked against platforms from ABB, Siemens, Rockwell, AVEVA, and IBM, the TAAIB – vCPPS Platform demonstrates industry-leading performance in:
- Simulation Realism: Full fidelity, real-time digital twin execution with Behavior Profiles (BPs) at the sensor and actuator layers and Advanced Machine Behavior Profiles (AMBPs) at the machine layer.
- No-Code Usability: Faster setup (3–5 minutes/BP vs. 1–2 hours for others).
- AI/ML Readiness: With generative AI for PLC logic, AI/ML predictive models, and integrated analytics.
- Cost Efficiency: Open-source and modular architecture results in significantly lower total cost of ownership (~$0.1–0.5k/node vs. ~$1–5k/node).
- Sector Versatility: Equally optimized for discrete (e.g., automotive, electronics) and continuous (e.g., oil, chemicals, food) manufacturing processes.
Why This Matters for Manufacturers of All Sizes
Whether you're a Tier 1 automotive supplier, a regional food producer, or a large-scale oil refinery, the journey to digital transformation is often obstructed by high cost, steep learning curves, and disconnected technologies. The TAAIB – vCPPS Platform solves this.
- For Small Manufacturers: Start with a 30-day free Tier 0 sandbox. No prior coding required.
- For Medium Enterprises: Leverage modular expansions and AI toolkits to enhance throughput and reduce downtime.
- For Large Enterprises: Orchestrate multi-facility operations with full AI integration, digital twin networks, and ISO-compliant traceability.
Why TAAIB – vCPPS Platform Is the Best Risk-Mitigation Approach to AI Adoption
AI adoption in manufacturing is often plagued by uncertainty, high upfront costs, and poor ROI clarity. TAAIB – vCPPS Platform de-risks this journey through its simulation-first, no-code-enabled, and modular design. It empowers companies to pilot real-world scenarios in a digital twin before deploying to production—a strategic advantage that drastically reduces implementation risk.
More importantly, the TAAIB - vCPPS Platform offers a tangible and relatable pathway to transformation. It simulates machines, processes, sensors, and actuators exactly as they exist on the factory floor. Decision-makers and frontline staff alike can see, interact with, and trust the systems being built. It turns AI from something abstract and intimidating into something visible and actionable.
In an industry facing the rapid aging of its workforce, TAAIB – vCPPS Platform provides a critical knowledge-retention mechanism. By embedding tacit knowledge of operators, planners, and engineers into no-code logic and behavioral profiles, the platform ensures that institutional memory is captured, curated, and continuously optimized. This is not just about automation—it's about protecting operational wisdom.
Finally, the TAAIB - vCPPS Platform lays the groundwork to maximize the potential of Generative AI. Generative AI, while powerful, is most value-additive when layered on top of structured, deterministic AI models like those used in predictive maintenance, scheduling, optimization, and control policy generation. TAAIB – vCPPS Platform provides exactly this foundation—offering a clear path to combine generative capabilities with reinforcement learning, digital twin validation, and real-time adaptive simulation.
Conclusion: Why Now, and Why TAAIB – vCPPS
The manufacturing world is being reshaped by AI—faster than many are prepared for. Most manufacturers struggle with legacy systems, fragmented data, and the overwhelming cost of transformation. The TAAIB – vCPPS Platform offers an answer: a mature, field based-tested, AI-native digital twin platform tailored for smart manufacturing.
The TAAIB - vCPPS Platform is not just another software solution. It is the practical evolution of an idea seeded over 30 years ago—that simulation, data, and intelligent automation can empower people, improve processes, and future-proof entire industries.
For manufacturers seeking a bridge between where they are and where AI is going, the TAAIB – vCPPS Platform is that bridge.
To learn more, visit https://tiemaccorporation.com