Miele has decided to consequently use the OPC UA Standard in their device manufacturing. The integrated security providing encryption and signing is comprehensively implemented throughout Miele. One major advantage of OPC UA is provision of standardized interfaces within different systems. The time efforts caused by integration, when inventing the wheel over and over again, has mostly come to an end. With that the real task, of transporting data content, got back the focus. Reducing engineering efforts in communication technology, i.e. in highly flexible production processes like Industrie 4.0, dramatically decreases costs.
Christian Stickling, Miele, Information Technology in Appliance Production, says: „Because also global players like Microsoft, Siemens and SAP pushing the OPC UA Standard, we are able create new and integral concepts. Today we are pilot customers of Siemens and we validate the potential of Microsoft's Azure Cloud Services on selected production lines, emphasizing on Machine Learning and Smart Factory. Also, the coordination with SAP regarding OPC UA standardized and production-related exchange of data content, looks very promising.“
Miele uses material flow simulation, which will be using OPC UA standards to effectively obtain live data directly from the source. With that feedback into higher level systems can be visualized, optimized and controlled. Hence, a simulation supported control station is realized. Additional advantage is the use of virtualized hardware. The principles of „Hardware in the Loop“ is validating the processes already during the construction and planning phase.
The OPC Foundation is supporting Miele with their excellent network of different technology providers.
Miele demands the integration of intelligent actuators and sensors from all their suppliers of manufacturing technology. According to the company's principle: „Always Superior“, Miele is on it's way into the digital future.
Stefan Hoppe, OPC Foundation Vice President remarked “By mandating the integration of all of its third party intelligent actuators and sensors and standardizing on OPC UA, Miele is taking concrete steps towards reaping the rewards the Smart Factory concept has to offer. True to its slogan, Miele continues to demonstrate its commitment to ‘always improve’ “ .
Erich Barnstedt, Principal Software Engineering Lead, Azure Industrial IoT, Microsoft says: “OPC UA is deeply integrated into Microsoft Azure IoT Suite Connected factory – together with Cortana Analytics Suite it will help to drive cost savings and efficiencies in Miele’s business “.
Rüdiger Fritz, Product Manager SAP MES says: „The experts of Miele and SAP came to the same conclusion: the modern, high efficient but at the same time highly flexible factory of the future, requires a tighter integration of business driven data and automation technology. Both also agree that standardized, secure and open coupling will only make sense when it is build on the interoperability architecture of OPC UA. Together we discuss, how production of the future based on and with aid of the powerful "glue" OPC UA, will look like.“
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