The three organisations have been previously been working in parallel on different aspects of automation standardisation. Interoperability between devices and machines that use different protocols is a significant challenge in realising the full potential of IIoT.
By collaborating on companion specifications to the standards and protocols they’ve already developed, the three organisations aim to advance the quality and efficiency of data sharing and communication at the machine and production line and up through the enterprise.
Collaborative efforts by standards organisations align with the Industrial Internet Consortium’s goal to ultimately identify and define building blocks for interoperability that make smart factories and IIoT possible.
“It just makes sense for these organisations which have individually done so much to advance automated manufacturing to collaborate and avoid redundant developments,” said John Kowal, a member of OMAC’s board of directors.
Manufacturers and machine builders have implemented OMAC’s ISA-TR88.00.02 automation standard (PackML) on various control platforms. While PackML defines machine modes, states and tag naming conventions, it does not specify a communications protocol.
OPC and PLCopen recently worked together to define a set of function blocks to map the IEC 61131-3 global standard for industrial controls programming to the OPC UA information communication model.
“A standard communication protocol, used consistently across the industry, is vital for realising the full benefits of automation standards such as ISA-TR88, which then can be a valuable data source for smart factories and the IIoT,” says Dr Bryan Griffen, OMAC Chairman and Nestlé Group engineering manager.
APMEN News, Oct 2016
