Parameterization instead of programming is one of the basic principles of the whole Plant iT system platform. Plant it connect uses this principle to implement communication interfaces between Plant iT and various external systems. The range covers:

• Client-server or host-based systems (e.g. ERP systems such as SAP R/3, LIMS systems, maintenance systems)
• PC and PLC based systems (e.g. automation systems and SCADA systems)
• Intelligent measurement and monitoring systems (e.g. inspectors and inline analysis devices)

Plant iT connect consists of

• the engineering frontend,
• the communication channels and
• the system service.

The engineering interface

The operator interface of Plant iT connect is used exclusively for the parameterization and monitoring of communication interfaces. It seamlessly integrates into the configuration client, the central engineering environment of Plant iT. The parameterization dialogues for the different communication channels are standardized in respect to structure. Contentwise they are adapted automatically to the particularities of each channel.

The communication channels

For each communication to be parameterized, a communication channel is  selected in order to define the communication methods to be used. The function of the communication channel is to ensure interface-orientated processing of the data to be transferred as well as the use of standardized functions for sending and receiving data packages.
The following channels are available:

• IDoc/MQ Series
  Plant iT connect sends and receives IDocs using message queuing as the type of communication.
• IDoc/RFC
  Plant iT connect transfers IDocs by sending/receiving RFCs (Remote Function Calls).
• front end
  Plant iT connect sends and receives XML documents and supports the B2MML implementation of ISA 95.
• RFC Client/Server
  Plant iT connect sends and receives RFCs (Remote Function Calls), i.e. requests for particular information. Their content and structure can be individually defined per interface. Either tRFC or sRFC can be used.
• SQL/ODBC
  Plant iT connect utilizes the ODBC standard interface for communication with relational databases of other systems.
• ASCII/File
  Plant iT connect sends and receives data by writing or reading ASCII files stored in an external system.

The system service

Plant iT connect service works on the operating system level. Its primary task is to coordinate and report communications transactions. It is here where incoming data are processed and forwarded to the appropriate communication channel. As the central authority, the service is in charge of an important part of data processing. In this way, the workload for the communication channels is reduced and the system can easily be upgraded with additional communication modes.

Typical applications

Among others IDoc and RFC communication are used for the data interface to SAP MM, PP and PM modules.

• Interface to SAP-MM
  Depending on requirements this interface is used for transaction-specific, bidirectional data exchange concerning individual material movements. It is also possible to alternately synchronize information on stock of materials.

• SAP-PP interface
  Production orders as well as respective bills of material can be transferred via this interface from SAP to Plant iT, which reports back order-related data to SAP, e.g. order status and actual values like quantities produced.

• SAP-PM interface
  This interface transfers counter and measured values to the SAP module for the planning and monitoring of maintenance activities (e.g. current status of operating hours and switching cycle counters).

ASCII interface

This interface can be used for the automatic transfer of various data from subordinate measurement and control systems, like for example inspector data of a bottling line. The individual inspectors (empties, full goods, empty crates) store their ASCII data files locally on a PC that belongs to the inspection system. The system service, located on the Plant iT server,

• accesses stored data via the network,
• checks stored data for any changes,
• reads them out, if necessary, and
• transfers them via the communication channel to the central Plant iT database.

Here, data are available for further processing (visualization, reporting, investigations). Because of its flexibility, this type of communication is particularly suited for linking application-specific solutions to external systems.