Production technology generates an enormous amount of data that can influence process optimization, automation, and organizational and strategic decisions. However, the data is often collected and manually compared isolated in each individual process step.
Vertical integration is used to make the generated data available centrally and across all levels. This involves integrating the various IT systems at different levels of the hierarchy in accordance with the ISA-95 architecture to form a consistent overall system. The networking of the different levels can be realized consistently using standardized interfaces such as OPC UA.
As an expert for production and process plants as well as their underlying IT systems, SKAN has a broad knowledge and many years of experience regarding the vertical integration of different systems and the networking of entire plants for optimal data transfer.
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Do you need support in the implementation of a vertical integration of your production or process equipment? Together with you, SKAN will find the optimal solution for your individual use case. SKAN takes over the connection of your plants to the following hierarchy levels:
- Field Level (Process Automation)
- Control Level (PLC)
- Process Control Level (DCS, HMI, SCADA)
- Plant control level (MES, Data Management Platform)
FAQs
- What are the advantages of vertical integration?
The use of vertical integration enables optimal data transfer across all production and hierarchy levels. This makes specific production data available to strategic organizational levels, which can influence marketing or personnel decisions. This networking prevents silos of knowledge and makes all relevant data available at any required point.
- What benefits does this networking provide?
Networking the systems by using vertical integration enables data from all processes, sensors, actuators, and systems to be compiled and analyzed. This networking of all existing data provides the optimal basis for predictive maintenance. All current and historical data are analyzed in order to derive correlations and to be able to predict malfunctions or unambiguous system behavior before they occur. Potential sources of error and malfunctions can be detected at an early stage and maintenance work optimally planned. This minimizes downtimes, reduces maintenance effort and saves costs and time.
- Which divisions benefit from vertical integration?
Due to the countless purposes of the collected and archived data, all areas of the company can benefit from vertical integration and networking of data. Not only production is able to provide more valid decisions, but also management, quality assurance or maintenance can benefit from the comprehensive data basis.
