MES Appliance Integrating Historian for Compliance Recording
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional industrial control system architectures are inadequate for seamless data exchange between various components of an enterprise, particularly in global manufacturing settings, and lack the ability to efficiently record and store data for compliance with regulations like 21 CFR Part 11, leading to inefficiencies and resource wastage due to poor data management and planning.
Innovation Solution
An integrated architecture that combines historical and real-time data to model desired outputs, using a Manufacturing Execution System (MES) Appliance to dynamically configure and implement processes, allowing for real-time data collection, storage, and workflow adjustments to achieve optimal outcomes, facilitated by a historian component, real-time collection component, and a GUI for data manipulation and configuration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional control system architectures are used, then system simplicity is maintained, but data exchange between enterprise components is not seamless and compliance recording is inadequate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent embeds the historian component directly within the MES appliance, creating a nested architecture where the historian is integrated into the MES system. This nesting allows compliance recording functionality to be incorporated without requiring a completely separate system, thus improving reliability while managing complexity through hierarchical integration.
Solution Approach 2:
The MES appliance is designed to perform multiple functions: it serves as both the manufacturing execution system and the historian for compliance recording. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate dedicated compliance recording systems, improving reliability through integrated functionality while avoiding the complexity of multiple independent systems.
2Reliability
If separate historian processors are used for data recording, then compliance capability is improved, but data exchange efficiency between components deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the historian functionality with the MES appliance into a single integrated unit. This combination allows the system to maintain compliance recording capability while improving data exchange efficiency, as the integrated architecture eliminates interface barriers and enables seamless data flow between the MES operations and historian recording functions.
3Productivity
If conventional standalone factory systems are used, then system simplicity is maintained, but real-time data collection and optimization capability are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a pre-configured integrated MES appliance with embedded historian functionality, prepared in advance for real-time data collection. This preliminary integration of capabilities within the appliance allows the system to immediately begin real-time data collection when deployed, improving productivity while managing complexity through pre-established architectural relationships.
Data Source
AI summary
A simulation that integrates historical data and real-time data as a test or simulation tool can capture an entry that relates to a desired output as function points. A determination can intellectually be made as to which activities can achieve the desired output. The activities can be process steps that can represent a workflow that can be automatically implemented by an MES Appliance or other enterprise components. If a simulation reveals that the desired output might not be achieved, a change to one or more function points can be analyzed in an attempt to achieve the desired result. This change can be input into a simulation tool through a feedback loop, for example. Another simulation can performed on the modified data until a determination is made that the desired output can be achieved.