Wonderware connects with SAP NetWeaver

Certified interfaces between plant-floor systems and ERP systems have been around for decades as a means of simplifying integration, but—at least historically—still resulted in inflexible linkages. Now a combination of industry momentum for NetWeaver, the integration platform from ERP giant SAP, and the ISA S95 standard for plant-to-enterprise systems integration, is converging for a more adaptable means of tying the two worlds together.

Plant information management vendor Wonderware has taken some recent steps that embody this integration trend. In January, it announced that Enterprise Integration Application 2.0, its plant integration solution built around the ISA S95 standard, achieved SAP's Interoperability Certification for ISA S95. In connection with this effort, Wonderware gained Certified for SAP NetWeaver status.

Claus Abildgren, Wonderware's program manager for production and performance management solutions, says modern integration technologies including NetWeaver and Wonderware's ArchestrA integration platform, as well as a XML-based schema for the ISA S95 standard known as the Business-To-Manufacturing Markup Language (B2MML), support flexible integration. Specifically, Wonderware's solution leverages the NetWeaver Exchange Infrastructure (XI) integration broker and open plant system integration capabilities from Wonderware to create a standard B2MML implementation of the standard.

"Trying to integrate business systems with the plant floor isn't new, but it typically results in custom point-to-point solutions," Abildgren says. "Adopting ISA S95 and adhering to its naming conventions and schema make the integration easier to maintain, and repeatable from site to site."

ISA S95 covers four categories of data exchange: production resources, product definition, production schedule, and production results. While the standard brings consensus around what needs to be integrated, says Abildgren, B2MML schema with modern integration platforms on either side make it easier to adjust the integration to changing requirements such as new products being made on a line, or new ways of producing batches. "Adopting this new technology allows you to become more agile and responsive to the changing needs of your business," he says.

In February, Wonderware followed up with another NetWeaver certification—this one for the link between its Business Package for Process Performance Analysis and SAP's NetWeaver Portal. Having two certifications also gained Wonderware SAP's Powered by SAP NetWeaver status.

Citect, another plant-focused vendor, also recently achieved the "Powered By" status.

Bob Mick, VP of Emerging Technologies with Dedham, Mass.-based ARC Advisory Group, says NetWeaver certification is growing in importance for plant-focused vendors that want to appeal to the SAP installed base, but adds that some plant-focused vendors also are partnering with other vendors with middleware technology—including IBM and TIBCO—for improved integration.

"There is still much work to be done with plant-to-business systems integration, but a few key factors—including customer pressure on the vendors, better integration engines, and new standards—have come together to make improved integration possible," says Mick.