Information integration

Industry 4.0 demonstrators and model factories are often complicated, automated mechatronic structures that are set up with customised software and operated in a specific area of application in order to prove their feasibility.

In manufacturing companies, however, commercially available components and information systems are usually used to set up and operate production. In the Information Integration Laboratory, common industrial components are therefore operated with commercially available industrial software on our laboratory system, a plastic granulate filling plant, the automation levels used for this purpose are linked with transparent standard interfaces and the data obtained from this is analysed and controlled with common company information systems. Industrial automation in the Information Integration Laboratory therefore goes beyond pure production control at the level of sensors, actuators, PLC and control centre. Using the hardware and software installed in the laboratory, data evaluation from the process and operating data level, commercial feedback to the ERP level and special services for specific functions at the MES/CAQ level are integrated into the information transfer in a modular fashion. In this laboratory setting, students learn about and apply important aspects of industrial automation and information integration.