Product category: Plant- and Machine-Wide Communications
News Release from: The Profibus Group | Subject: Automation systems interface
Edited by the Engineeringtalk Editorial Team on 13 December 2006
Profinet and MES
close the communication gap
Profibus International has released the 'Profinet and MES Maintenance Operations' guideline, which describes interface functions that support MES maintenance systems
The guideline facilitates consistent communication with Profinet from the field level right up to top management. This makes it much easier to switch from preventive maintenance to condition monitoring in systems and machines. Information exchange between automation systems, Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES) and enterprise resource planning (ERP) is gaining importance in company wide, integrated control processes and decisions.
This article was originally published on Engineeringtalk on 13 December 2006 at 8.00am (UK)
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While interfaces between MES and ERP are defined in ISO/IEC 62264, the new Profinet specification defines an open interface between MES and automation systems for maintenance operations.
This has closed a communication gap, as no standards had previously been established relating to how the system automation information required in MES systems should be provided.
Thanks to this document, standardised interface functions are now available between Profinet and the MES maintenance field.
The state of a production line is vitally important in assessing system availability, which means it is also an important parameter in terms of production planning.
It is particularly important for this status information to be communicated in a standardised manner, as this can significantly reduce the engineering work required.
Further reading
Whimsical view of industrial Ethernet
The Profibus Group is offering a free booklet that takes a fresh look at industrial Ethernet and addresses some of the myths and facts about Profinet
Diagnostics are key to fieldbus adoption
When Roche started construction of a new 25,000 tonne per annum vitamin E production plant in 2001 the decision was made to use fieldbus technology
Fieldbus enable flexible machine control
Profibus is being used by CSi for its customised flexible palletisers, enabling assembly operations to be simplified and time saved, plus the need for cabinet space is reduced
Profinet uses an extended traffic light model to display the device states, which, as proposed in NAMUR recommendation NE107, features not only the status 'failure', but also the pre warning levels 'maintenance required' and 'maintenance demand'.
Furthermore, up to 30 additional states can be defined for communication for each device profile.
This makes it simple to implement state based maintenance wherever wear out, asset depreciation or contamination can restrict device function.
Another MES relevant Profinet functionality is the ability to exactly and electronically identify the devices used in the system.
The Profibus guideline 'Identification and Maintenance Functions' (I and M functions)provides suitable mechanisms for achieving this.
The basis scope of the I and M functions contains the so called 'electronic type plate'.
The device manufacturer saves the data of this type plate in its devices.
At any time, users can read out this device specific data, which can be used for example in selecting spare parts, procuring and storing products, and planning device updates.
It can also be used to establish a direct link to the manufacturer.
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