Examining Basic Objects in Machine Integration

A machine is hardware equipment or a piece of hardware equipment that executes at least one operation in an automated way. In SAP Digital Manufacturing integration scenarios, a machine can be a sensor, screwdriver, facility, robot, cobot, or any kind of physical device. Every machine that needs to be connected needs to have a Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) with a particular communication protocol for communication with SAP Digital Manufacturing.

In SAP Digital Manufacturing, machines can be represented as a resource, but this does not apply to all integration cases. For example, if a screwdriver is used as a tool at an assembly station, the screwdriver can be integrated, but the assembly station will be the resource in SAP Digital Manufacturing. If a CNC machine represents the workstation in a routing, the CNC machine can be represented as a resource.

A Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) is a specialized computing device used for industrial control systems. It is designed to automate processes in manufacturing environments by monitoring inputs, making decisions based on programmed logic, and controlling outputs such as machinery and equipment. PLCs are widely used in various industries to improve efficiency, consistency, and safety in automated operations.

In SAP Digital Manufacturing machine integration scenarios, the PLC provides data fields where information can be read and be written using a machine protocol. One PLC can control multiple machines.

Open Platform Communications Unified Architecture (OPC UA) is a machine-to-machine communication protocol for industrial automation developed by the OPC Foundation. It is designed to provide secure and reliable communication between different types of industrial devices and systems, such as PLCs, SCADA systems, and Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES). OPC UA is known for its interoperability, security features, and support for various data types, making it a popular choice for industrial IoT and Industry 4.0 applications.

In SAP Digital Manufacturing, OPC UA is the most important protocol for machine integration.