{"id":2960,"date":"2020-11-05T15:27:21","date_gmt":"2020-11-05T07:27:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/glutenfreepleasure.com\/__proxy_domain\/www.precicon.com.sg\/?post_type=industry_4_0&p=2960"},"modified":"2023-05-08T11:06:26","modified_gmt":"2023-05-08T03:06:26","slug":"enabling-interoperability-opc-ua","status":"publish","type":"industry_4","link":"https:\/\/glutenfreepleasure.com\/__proxy_domain\/www.precicon.com.sg\/industry_4\/enabling-interoperability-opc-ua\/","title":{"rendered":"Connectivity & Interoperability (Part 3) – Enabling Interoperability with OPC-UA"},"content":{"rendered":"[vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” overlay_strength=”0.3″ shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_link_target=”_self” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1\/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column_text]\n

Connectivity & Interoperability (Part 3) – Enabling Interoperability with OPC-UA<\/h2>\n[\/vc_column_text][nectar_animated_title heading_tag=”h3″ style=”color-strip-reveal” color=”Accent-Color” text=”Enabling Interoperability”][vc_column_text]Interoperability can be defined as; the ability of two or more products, programs, or systems, to exchange and interpret each other\u2019s data. Ability, in this sense, can refer to both the means to interact and the quality of that interaction. Connectivity allows the conversation to take place between these elements; interoperability ensures they speak the same language.<\/span><\/p>\n

The factory, and the wider manufacturing supply chain, has evolved through successive industrial eras into an incredibly diverse technology landscape. Every production facility is made up of a plethora of equipment, of different ages, from numerous manufacturers, and with varying approaches to communication.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Industry 4.0 wants to connect all those \u201cthings\u201d and more, but only if they can talk to one another. To bring about the vast benefits of a smart connected factory, manufacturing operations will need to enable a high level of interoperability.<\/span><\/p>\n

Interoperability has become a key challenge for the development of Industry 4.0 technologies. The sector has been slow to create and agree upon adequate standards for secure exchange of data between machines, devices, and services across different companies and industries, leaving us with a somewhat fragmented interoperability landscape.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

However, as we move into a new decade there is optimism about the increasing collaboration within the industry and the interoperability standards that are currently establishing themselves in the manufacturing space.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"opc-ua<\/h2>\n[\/vc_column_text][divider line_type=”No Line”][nectar_animated_title heading_tag=”h3″ style=”color-strip-reveal” color=”Accent-Color” text=”Interoperability Standards”][vc_column_text]The whole Industry 4.0 initiative focuses on connecting IT and automation in a strategic way, thus forcing interoperability technologies such as Open Platform Communications Unified Architecture (OPC UA) in the spotlight. Industry 4.0 and related initiatives accept that open software and communications standards are vital to self-managing production processes.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In order to drive the Industrial movement and bring about the economic growth it promises, standards are essential to enable controllers, sensors, equipment, machines, humans, and other systems to cooperate and communicate directly.<\/span><\/p>\n

Design engineers of Industry 4.0 demonstration processes acknowledge this need by using existing standards, such as the ISA95 integration standards in their designs. Adopting these standards recognises that manufacturing processes are filled with international interdependencies, which require shared standards and interoperable technologies. Hence, Singapore Smart Industry Readiness Index (SIRI) encourages companies to standardise or make use of complementary communication technologies and protocols to establish more open, inclusive, and transparent communications networks.<\/span><\/p>\n

Three standards have emerged as the most important building blocks of Industry 4.0 interoperability, each with its own history, best use cases, and capabilities within the manufacturing supply chain. Critically, these standards are platform independent, which enable devices sold by different vendors to exchange information without system hang-ups. <\/span>[\/vc_column_text][divider line_type=”No Line”][nectar_animated_title heading_tag=”h3″ style=”color-strip-reveal” color=”Accent-Color” text=”OPC UA – the New Standard for Industry 4.0 Connectivity”][divider line_type=”No Line”][image_with_animation image_url=”2966″ alignment=”” animation=”Fade In” border_radius=”none” box_shadow=”none” max_width=”100%”][vc_column_text]Open Platform Communications (OPC)<\/a> is the prominent interoperability standard, and a vital element in digital manufacturing and automation efforts. OPC is an interoperability standard used to secure the exchange of manufacturing automation data.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Early versions of OPC (or OPC Classic) \u2014OLE for Process Control\u2014 were plagued by security problems, closed architectures, maintenance difficulties, and time-consuming data management. Its complexity and expense made it difficult to run and unsuitable for use in Industry 4.0 applications.\u00a0<\/span>Early Industry 4.0 adopters would need a standard that enables improved functionality and usability, OPC responded with the significant Industry 4.0 improvements built into the updated version \u2014 the <\/span>OPC UA standard.<\/b>[\/vc_column_text][divider line_type=”No Line”][nectar_animated_title heading_tag=”h3″ style=”color-strip-reveal” color=”Accent-Color” text=”Key Features of OPC-UA”][vc_column_text]\n