Towards Data-driven Production: Analysis of Data Models Describing Machinery Jobs in OPC UA

Abstract

: This work analyzes the Open Platform Communications Unified Architecture (OPC UA) specifications for flat glass, plastics and rubber, machine vision, ISA-95 and machine tools regarding their job descriptions. Common contents of job models in the domain of machinery are deducted. Using a structured qualitative content analysis, more than 70 functional elements used in OPC UA job models have been identified. While some of these functional elements are modeled similarly in multiple domains, major differences are identified for other functional elements. Especially those differences constitute impediments in the standardization of industrial communication. The results of this work harmonize the contents and the modeling techniques regarding machining jobs in OPC UA and provide a generally applicable method for the standardization of machine communication throughout different domains. With this method for standardization, this work contributes directly to the goal of OPC UA, to easily exchange data between platforms from multiple vendors.