How OPC UA's Information Models Improve Efficiency and Enable Better Decision-Making

In our previous OPC UA articles, we’ve explained why OPC UA is useful. In this article, we focus on OPC UA’s information models and how they help companies improve efficiency and enable better decision-making.

What are the main benefits of OPC UA’s information model?

The benefits of OPC UA’s information model can broadly be divided into three categories.

1. Standardization: The information model uses a consistent set of data types, objects, and relationships to describe devices. This makes integrating different systems and applications easier, as the systems or applications can all use the same information model to understand and exchange data.
   
   
2. Contextualization: The structured format means that each piece of information has a specific context and meaning. Providing contextualized information is useful because it helps to provide a better understanding of the data and how it fits into the larger system.
   
   
3. Future-proof: The OPC foundation has established methods to enable organizations to define companion specifications or companies to create custom information models ensuring the information develops over time and meets a company’s specific needs The information models are also extensible, allowing developers to add new features and capabilities as needed without breaking existing systems.
   
   

Let’s elaborate a little on contextualization. How does OPC UA provide contextualized information?

OPC UA information models provide contextualized information by defining not only the data's structure and format but also the data's meaning and context. To explain the data's meaning and context, the information model uses object-oriented modeling, where data is organized into objects with specific types and properties. For example, an OPC UA information model for a machine tool might have a "Machine" object that represents the entire machine, with sub-objects for the various components such as the "Compressor," "Controller," and "Sensor," each with their own properties

Figure 1. OPC UA’s hierarchical structure, showing a machine, the machine’s compressor,
and the compressor's properties.

To further enhance contextualization, OPC UA information models can include descriptions and documentation for each object or property.

The hierarchical structure of OPC UA's information model, similar to a tree-like structure, enables users to navigate and understand the context of the information easily. Users can start at any node and navigate higher up to relevant machines or lower to specific configuration settings.

Can you provide a practical example of how companies can use contextualized data to improve efficiency?

Let's say a company manufactures automotive parts and they have several production lines that use different machines to perform various operations, such as stamping, welding, and painting. To monitor the production line’s performance, they gather a wide range of data from the machines, such as temperature, pressure, speed, and vibration.

Using OPC UA's contextualized data, the company can aggregate and analyze this data in real time to identify patterns and trends and to make informed decisions about machine maintenance, process optimization, quality control, and energy management. For example, companies can use the data to improve the following: 

• Predictive Maintenance: Identify when a machine is likely to fail and schedule maintenance before it breaks down. This can help to reduce downtime and increase overall equipment effectiveness (OEE).
  
  
• Process Optimization: Identify bottlenecks, inefficiencies, and other issues affecting production. Using this information, the company can make targeted improvements to the process, such as adjusting machine settings or reconfiguring the production line, to improve efficiency and reduce waste.
  
  
• Quality Control: Monitor the quality of the produced parts and identify any defects or anomalies. Using this information, the company can adjust the process, such as changing the speed or pressure of a machine, to improve product quality and reduce scrap.
  
  
• Energy consumption: Identify areas where energy usage is particularly high or inefficient and make informed decisions, such as adjusting production schedules or optimizing equipment settings.

In summary, companies can use OPC UA's contextualized data to gain deeper insights into their manufacturing operations, enabling them to make data-driven decisions that improve efficiency, reduce costs, and enhance product quality.

Finally, how are OPC UA information models future-proof?

One of the main ways that OPC UA's information models are future-proof is via its support for companion specifications and vendor-specific extensions.

Companion specifications are domain-specific information models built on top of the OPC UA standard, defining additional data types, objects, and services specific to a particular industry or application. The OPC Foundation is working with organizations such as VDMA to create OPC UA companion specifications. Together, they work to identify the specific data models and information needed for their respective industries or applications. They then define how this information can be represented using the OPC UA standard and create a companion specification that provides guidelines for using OPC UA in those contexts.

Individual vendors use vendor-specific extensions to create custom information models representing their products' specific features and capabilities. Ensuring their products can be easily integrated with other systems and applications supporting OPC UA.

Both companion specifications and vendor-specific extensions are compatible with the OPC UA standard as they're built using the same set of data types and objects defined in the standard

Figure 2. OPC UA Modelling

Additionally, OPC UA provides a flexible and extensible information model that can be easily adapted to new use cases and technologies.

OPC UA's support for companion specifications and vendor-specific extensions, as well as its flexible and extensible information model, help to ensure that it remains a future-proof technology that can adapt to changing industry needs and technological advancements.

About the Author

Joakim Wiberg, Head of Technology, Anybus. Joakim is also the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of ODVA and a frequent lecturer on security and industrial communication.

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