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05/04/2011
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ODVA, the digital plant and machinery communications association, has launched a machinery initiative aimed at improving the integration of machinery with industrial manufacturing equipment.
 Katherine Voss, executive director of ODVA, says that the not for profit organisation will develop "a comprehensive and open interoperability framework" to help machine builders drive innovation and productivity improvements to plant managers.
That includes forging alliances with other vendor-neutral standards development organisations, starting with SERCOS International and OPC Foundation, to foster cross-collaboration.
"ODVA embraces an open and inclusive approach to innovation in information and communication technology for OEM machinery," explains Voss.
She makes the point that users are increasingly relying on machine builders to provide the functionality needed to integrate machines with overall production processes and businesses. Research into the OEM machinery market, she says, identified four key areas where a focus on an open interoperability framework would provide this functionality.
These include machine optimisation (which includes application areas related to safety, energy and motion); connectivity; information exchange; and device definition and configuration.
"ODVA looks forward to collaboration with its members, as well as increased dialogue with other open standards development organisations for the benefit of both vendors and users," comments Voss.
"The co-operation with ODVA and the joint support of CIP Safety has created substantial technical and market synergies for the safety network community," adds Peter Lutz, managing director of SI. "These positive experiences are what convinced SI to expand its collaboration with ODVA."
ODVA has already formed a task force to identify key milestones to ensure the appropriate input is received from machine builders on the process. Its initiative will encompass technical work by the organisation, as well as workshops with its alliance partners to identify initial areas of cross collaboration.
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Author
Brian Tinham
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