The Process and Instrumentation Diagram (P&ID) is the most important document used for designing and building a plant. The DEXPI initiative has developed a data format that supports the move from a document-centric to a data-centric approach -with the help of an OPC UA companion specification.
AIM-D e.V. and the OPC Foundation have jointly initiated and continuously developed the AutoID Companion Specification in order to link AutoID and IT systems faster in all fields of application. Numerous practical applications are now available, and a demonstration was exhibited at SPS IPC Drives 2018.
MTConnect is a widely adopted standard for machine tools, robots, and other manufacturing equipment as confirmed at the IMTS show last month. A new MTConnect – OPC UA Companion Specification is set for release before the end of the year.
Two collaborations are highlighted this month. Harmonization work has begun in the Industrie 4.0 Asset Administration Shell (I4AAS) Working Group along with the ZVEI and VDMA to bring the I4AAS into OPC UA. And the VDW has adopted OPC UA as its interoperability foundation for Machine Tool Builders.
Practical security recommendations for building OPC UA Applications provides both application guidelines and an overview of the OPC UA security concept itself, and how to use it. As industrial systems use networking and digitalization, new security challenges that are created need to be tackled systematically.
The ARC Advisory Group report concludes OPC UA is well positioned to serve as the data connectivity foundation for companies looking to deploy IIoT and I4.0 based solutions. It predicts the existing global OPC install base of over 45 million units is expected to expand 45% annually for the next 5 years.
How to realize secure data exchange and communication in industry? The OPC Foundation Security User Group answers this question by publishing its first white-paper “Practical Security Recommendations.”
The VDMA prioritized its activities on OPC UA and hereby presents an important position paper to the machine and plant engineering sector. The VDMA guideline “Industrie 4.0 Communication Guideline Based on OPC UA” should be understood as a practice-oriented tool. It shows actionable steps that help to implement the Industrie 4.0 communication in a company using OPC UA.
In other words: It is not a question of OPC UA vs. MQTT vs. AMQP… it is a question of OPC UA over what transport is best. MQTT and AMQP are options. Also, not quite on the OPC UA bandwagon? Read this White Paper.
