ERP software like the one
that SAP provides is usually integrated with many other solutions and
technologies that enterprises are running. That is also valid for Manufacturing
Execution systems (MES). As MES is intermediate step between ERP and process
control system (like Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA)) then
actually SAP ERP is also connected to the process control systems.
The connection of SAP
software (e.g. ERP) and the process control systems is realized via so called SAP Plant Connectivity (PCo) is a
framework. The PCo is set of services and management tools that allow the
creation of connectors for communication paths between control systems (e.g.
control devices, files, historians, TCP Sockets, etc.) and SAP manufacturing software.
What is meant by the SAP manufacturing software; can be following:
SAP
Manufacturing Execution (SAP ME)
SAP
Manufacturing Integration and Intelligence (SAP
MII)
SAP
Extended Warehouse Management (SAP EWM)
SAP
OPC Data Access (SAP
ODA)
The PCo is a
Microsoft.Net-developed software component of SAP Manufacturing. SAP started
with this solution while it acquired
a Lighthammer company in 2015. That time the integration of SAP and the process
control systems was based on xMII UDS (Universal Data Server). The PCo is
replacing now the xMII UDS.
Components of the PCo
include Management Console, Source Systems, Agent Instance and Destination
Systems. The Management Console in WINDOWS based application where all configuration
and management of the PCo takes place. As the Source Systems it supports following
standardized software interfaces:
OPC
Data Access/OPC Historical Data Access/Alarms & Events/Unified Architecture
OLE
DB
Open
Database Connectivity (ODBC)
Modbus
GE
Fanuc Proficy Historian
OSIsoft
PI
Socket
IP21
Citect
File
Monitor Agent
As for the Destination
Systems the PCo can be sending the data from the source systems into following
systems:
SAP
Manufacturing Integration and Intelligence (SAP MII)
SAP
Manufacturing Execution (SAP ME)
SAP
Business Suite system (SAP ERP or SAP EWM)
SAP
Event Stream Processor (SAP ESP)
SAP
HANA database
MS
SQL Server 2008
As the PCo is connecting
the SAP software within the hardware which in reality is control shop floor’s
machines within the factories there are also challenges emerging from security
point of view. It is important to protect these type of connection from the
security breaches as there can be attacks of plant sabotage, equipment damage,
product disruption or even safety violation occur.
More information
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