TREND WATCH • DESIGN
MOTION CONTROL
APPLICATIONS
Monitoring Machine Performance Plant floor to enterprise connectivity is easy with KEPServerEX
Source: Kepware
O
racle®, the world-leading database company, developed plant floor analytics — a new solution specifically oriented to the manufacturing marketplace. The Manufacturing Operations Center (MOC) is a stand-alone solution that delivers real-time operational intelligence with its own S95-based data model (separate from ERP). Architected to be ERP agnostic, it is designed as a unified plant data repository with integration to ERP, MES, data historians, SCADA and other types of shop floor systems. To gather real-time streaming data from plant equipment and control systems, Oracle enlisted a key partner, Kepware Technologies, the world leader in communication software for automation. Kepware offers a unique experience in both OPC and embedded device communications. Since 1995, Kepware has focused on the development of communication drivers to automation controllers, I/O and field devices. Operating system support includes Microsoft Windows Desktop, Windows Server and Windows Embedded (Windows CE and Windows Embedded NT/XP). Today, Kepware delivers connectivity to thousands of devices through more than 130 communication protocols.
KEPServerEX delivers MOC to equipment integration.
Performance Testing Objective
The selection of an external partner for connectivity solutions demanded close scrutiny of usability, performance and overall support. Testing communication partners and PLCs in both real-world and exaggerated scenarios occurs at the Oracle Manufacturing Operations Center Lab by a third party, Geometric, which specializes in the domain of engineering solutions, services and technologies. Under high data intensity and volume, KEPServerEX OPC Server exceeded the normal response time to handle high frequency data with extreme accuracy. The performance testing demonstrated flawless functions between the two products, enabling optimum manufacturing operations. Conclusion
Kepware now ships Oracle Manufacturing Operations Center’s Connectivity Suite that can be configured to collect specific device tags in real time and transfer them over to Oracle Manufacturing Operations Center.
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