ODVA Machinery Initiative Promotes Interoperability

April 11, 2011
ODVA's Cross-Collaboration Framework Is Aimed at Improving the Integration of Machinery With the Industrial Manufacturing Ecosystem

ODVA launched a machinery initiative intended to improve the integration of machinery with the industrial manufacturing ecosystem. ODVA plans to develop a comprehensive and open interoperability framework that will help machine builders drive innovation and productivity improvements. The framework will include cross-collaboration with other vendor-neutral standards development organizations, starting with SERCOS International (SI) and OPC Foundation.

“ODVA embraces an open and inclusive approach to innovation in information and communication technology for OEM machinery,” says Katherine Voss, executive director, ODVA.

Users increasingly rely on machine builders to provide the functionality needed to integrate machines with overall production processes and the enterprise. Research into the OEM machinery market identified four key areas where focus on an open interoperability framework can provide this functionality. These areas include machine optimization, connectivity, information exchange, and device definition and configuration.

“ODVA’s machinery initiative will enable end users to access data previously hidden in their machines by eliminating technical barriers, then leveraging this data into actionable information that can be used to provide business value, such as overall equipment effectiveness and other key performance indicators,” says Craig Resnick, research director, ARC Advisory Group.