7 questions about production information systems

Workers of large industries often have to deal with a sea of ​​information - data on manufactured products, on energy consumption, electricity consumed, plan and fact, loss of productivity and quality. These data are contained in a heap of places, they need to be brought together to obtain a single picture. In this difficult business, information systems of production help people. In my work, I often come across issues related to these systems. Recently, it occurred to me to put them together and give answers to them.

What is a production information system?

The production information system receives data from disparate production systems (process control systems, TM, ASKUE, process control systems, databases, office applications, manual input) and provides this data to users and other systems.
Their purpose, expressed in three words, not counting alliances and prepositions: information for people and systems . (About three words - thanks for the advice of Guy Kawasaki!)
Receiving data from lower-level systems, production information systems solve the problem of horizontal integration, and providing data to upper-level systems (ERP, EAM, TEP calculation systems) - vertical. And for all consumers (users and systems), the production information system provides a single access point to all production information.

Production Information System = Historian?

The production information system is often regarded as a synonym for Historian class systems, but this is not always the case. A production information system can include archiving and long-term storage functions that are fundamental to Historian, and can also use Historian class systems as data sources.
In some cases, production information systems do not use archiving functions at all, relaying user requests to sources on the fly and displaying the results.

Is it possible to make an information system based on SCADA?

Yes you can. But not necessary. But this is not always advisable. SCADA allows you to control the process and issue control actions to this process. The second function in information systems is not in demand. But often in SCADA there are no other necessary functions.
What are these features:

• Convenient navigation tools for mnemonic diagrams
• Quick access to detailed parameter information
• View formula and calculation tree for calculated parameters
• Work with data received at different points in time
• Convenient display and trending tools
• Powerful metrics calculators
• Advanced reporting tools

As a result, an information system made on the basis of SCADA often does not provide the required degree of convenience in working with information and by its nature remains a SCADA system.
Also often in SCADA systems, the main means of displaying data is a heavy client specially installed on the user's machine. Lightweight clients and Web-based display tools are often auxiliary and limited. And information systems require developed and powerful display tools that do not require special installation on users' machines.

Is it possible to make an information production system based on ERP?

Yes you can. But not necessary. But this is not always advisable. ERP usually needs aggregate values. Pulling a lot of raw data into it is not very natural. On the contrary, it is convenient when the ERP receives a ready-made actual value per shift or day.
According to ARM Research in the Western market, more than half of the enterprises that have implemented ERP have also introduced MES systems (this type of system includes production information systems). The information system itself collects data and feeds them to the "monster". As a result, ERP performs its functions, and the information system has its own.

On the basis of which platforms can an information production system be created?

The production information system can be built on the basis of one of the specialized platforms: PISystem (OSIsoft), SIMATIC IT Historian (Siemens), IndustrialSQL (Wonderware), Proficy Historian (General Electric) and some others.
As a platform for building production information systems, we use our own development - the Infocont software package.

What is the difference between Infocont and other platforms. Why make another system?

Hidden, it’s not customary to advertise here (smile). The text of the answer is here .

Where to read about production information systems?

Different types of production information systems are described in the article “MIS and EMI: MES Level Information Systems”

From what sources do information systems receive data?

In general, any system can be a data source for an information system.
If you need to control all production processes, then the process control systems act as sources. If it is necessary to control the compliance of the plan for the generation of the actual generation of electricity, then telemechanics systems and dispatch schedules exchange systems (for example, GeCon / GePart) can act as sources.
Other data sources may be class systems MES, LIMS and ERP.

Is it acceptable that information in multiple systems is duplicated?

The purpose of the information system is to present ALL the necessary information in one place. That the user did not open five applications, and the third-party system did not address itself to 10 sources.
To achieve this goal, it is permissible to go for duplication of information. The only thing is that the mechanisms for updating information must be thought out so that the information in the source does not diverge from our system.
There are also methods to reduce duplication. Data from the source may not be received in full or data may be obtained on the fly upon request.