ERP-driven business processes linked to plant operations enable real-time control, information management

Peter Martin, VP of strategic ventures for Invensys, says release of the InFusion Enterprise Control System marks a huge shift for both Invensys and its customers. “We're not a holding company anymore,” Martin declares. “We're Invensys—not Wonderware, Foxboro, Triconex, SimSci-Esscor, and Avantis.”

InFusion is based on Invensys' ArchestrA integration platform, unifying Foxboro's process control capabilities with Wonderware's HMI, plant intelligence, and device integration capabilities; the real-time condition monitoring and enterprise asset management found in Avantis; SimSci-Esscor simulation and process optimization; and Triconex safety and critical control features. “Quite simply, it's a new system platform that embodies a superset of everything we sell,” explains Martin, adding that other vendors' application can be linked to InFusion as well.

In particular, two newly released Invensys applications aimed at companies in specific verticals use SAP ERP. These “Powered by NetWeaver” apps take advantage of SAP's program that gives other vendors access to the specifications and interfaces required to build composite applications to connect elements of an outside vendor's systems with elements of the SAP suite.

The Invensys composite applications—Real Time Finance and Real-Time Production Execution—are aimed at process-oriented manufacturers such as food & beverage or chemical companies. The applications link SAP-driven business processes to Invensys-managed plant processes, enabling real-time control and management information.

Another highlight of the year, according to Martin, was the release of a solution that can help manufacturers take a more holistic approach to plant operations and maintenance.

“Our approach to asset management looks beyond functional silos by giving managers across the enterprise a common, asset-centric view of how everything they do affects the bottom line—minute-by-minute, and hour-by-hour,” he says.