Partner in the project "Decentralized Intelligence for Modular Applications” (DIMA)
Fluctuating procurement and sales markets, flexible relocation of production sites and the increasing requirement for customer-specific individualization of a product range are leading to ever-shorter product and innovation cycles in the process industry. Conventionally-constructed process technology equipment is usually not flexible enough and cannot efficiently master the introduction of new products or amended production quantities.
DIMA for increased individualization
WAGO has initiated the “DIMA – Decentralized Intelligence for Modular Applications” project in order to confront the desire for individualization of process equipment and a high degree of modularity in the automation of production processes. The committees of the User Association of Automation Technology in Process Industries (NAMUR) and the German Electrical and Electronic Manufacturers' Association (ZVEI) have taken on the DIMA approach in order to specify this further. The aim of the cooperation is to create an international standard on a long-term basis.
Service-orientated architecture
The idea of the DIMA concept is to compile an entire plant consisting of several autonomous equipment modules. An equipment module displays one or more standardized process steps, carries out procedures, operations or functions and provides these to the higher-level process control system, zenon, as a service. It thus takes on the role of a service provider. zenon can call up the service offered by the module and thus acts as a service user. DIMA consequently uses the paradigm of service-orientated architecture (SOA). In the DIMA concept, each module has its own “intelligence” and is equipped with its own WAGO controller. It serves to execute the services and monitor the module status.
Electronic description model: Module Type Package
In order to implement the DIMA method technically, a new definition for the description of the process equipment modules is required, the “Module Type Package” (MTP). The communication parameters, the services and the graphics information are stored in this MTP. In addition, there are further descriptions for status, diagnosis, history and archiving.
Handling and management of the modules
In order to design the complete engineering or re-engineering process as efficiently as possible, we have developed an MTP handling and management system. With this system, companies can read in the MTPs,create all required variables and operating screens, and define their connection. Users can also track, at any time, which artifacts in zenon have been created by which MTP. This allows the connection of the different modules required in the process, even during ongoing operation of the equipment. zenon also gives customers the possibility to select and export customized services or operating screens. This way, companies can set out a concept for reuse and reduce costs. In addition, the services contained in the MTP are created in the zenon Batch Control module as a phase. The parameters of the phases are set if required and linked to one another in the form of recipes. The production process of the equipment can begin after this step. If necessary, cross-module interlockings can be implemented in zenon using the variables created, and additional messages can be set up.
If you have questions, feel free to contact our person in charge of the project, Philipp Schmidt.