SIMATIC IT Framework - Production Modeling and Component Coordination

The classic view of a Manufacturing Execution System (MES) is that of a bridge between Enterprise Resource Planning System (ERP) at the business level and Controls/Automation Systems at the plant floor level. Orders are generated in or fed to the ERP system, and then dispatched to the MES system. The MES System then mobilizes the equipment, material, and other locale-specific resources to get the job done. It does this through direct integration with PLCs at the automation layer, or by notifying human operators of what to do and when to do it.

While the order is being filled, the MES system monitors all the key process variables and equipment characteristics, comparing to corporate-derived specifications and ensuring the highest possible product quality given the resources at hand. Key performance indicators (KPIs) are delivered to decision-makers through web interfaces and wireless devices in real time. All material consumption, production, and movement is tracked to provide visibility of supply upstream and downstream of the factory. Detailed product genealogy and quality records are stored and maintained to ensure regulatory compliance and to provide the data for limited-scope recalls in the unlikely event of a quality problem.

It sounds great, but something has to coordinate the workflow and manage the myriad of information transactions that must take place throughout the day. Until now, MES products have been packed with functionality and a lot of configuration options in an attempt to cover a wide range of requirements from manufacturers. This has made MES products more and more complex for users and vendors alike. Ultimately, these systems still have limited capability to adapt to different production requirements. We believe this approach cannot meet today's demand for highly flexible, standard, yet adaptable MES products.

Siemens takes a different approach. SIMATIC IT Framework is a modeling environment in which the functions of SIMATIC IT Components and other Siemens and third-party components are coordinated graphically to define execution logic like that described above. In the Framework, a plant model is created to represent the physical objects, tangible devices, and equipment) and logical objects software packages and applications). Production Operations, the graphical representations of the execution logic, use the components to access the status and trigger the functionality of the objects defined in the plant model. SIMATIC IT Libraries may be pre-defined and used to speed the design and implementation of repetitive and similar solutions.