Software delivers high-volume data collection/retrieval.
Press Release Summary:
Scalable to 100,000 data points per server, Proficy(TM) Historian v3.0 collects, archives, and distributes all types of real-time, plant floor production data. It can retrieve data from multiple sources and identify root causes of undesirable events. Able to integrate with existing plant floor systems, it provides OPC alarm and events collection and storage capabilities as well as co-existence and integration with OSI Software PI systems through 2-way data sharing.
Original Press Release:
Proficy(tm) Historian 3.0 from GE Fanuc Improves Plant-Wide Data Management Capabilities to Boost Manufacturing Performance
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. - April 27, 2005 - GE Fanuc Automation Americas, Inc., a unit of GE Infrastructure, has introduced the new Proficy(tm) Historian Version 3.0 - a major new version of the company's plant-wide data historian that collects, archives and distributes all types of real-time, plant floor production data with improved ease of use and high availability. With Proficy Historian, manufacturers can effectively collect and aggregate real-time plant data from multiple sources and quickly identify the root causes of undesirable events such as equipment failures and product quality in order to achieve peak performance. Proficy Historian Version 3.0 increases ease of integration with existing plant floor systems and improves data management through new OPC alarm and events collection and storage capabilities, boosts uptime through redundancy and high availability functionality, provides co-existence and integration with OSI Software PI systems through two-way data sharing, and expands national language support for faster and easier global implementation.
"A plant-wide historian is critical to continuous improvement initiatives because it enables manufacturers to make more intelligent decisions based on the collection and normalization of their production data across multiple plants," said Kevin Bernier, director of Proficy software for GE Fanuc Automation. "With Proficy Historian, companies can quickly and easily analyze their production in near real time, uncovering areas for improvements to increase productivity and quality. Furthermore, Historian helps manufacturers in regulated environments lower their validation costs and limit the scope and cost of recalls through a combination of differentiated capabilities such as electronic signatures, increased security, and an ability to collect and store process data with alarm and event data in one repository."
A major component of the Proficy software family, Historian supports GE Fanuc's open and layered software framework, communicating with GE Fanuc systems as well as other applications to easily leverage a user's installed base of equipment and enable faster ROI. Additionally, with access to real-time data through Proficy Historian, companies can enhance their ERP investments, as the software provides the single critical connection to all manufacturing data and a platform for significant production improvements.
Compared with relational databases, Proficy Historian provides more advanced data management capabilities while reducing the overall cost of system ownership. Standard interfaces and configurable administration tools greatly reduce the time to implement a system, which typically can be achieved in a few hours as opposed to days and weeks for relational database applications or more complex historians. In addition, the Historian does not require administrators to have special database skills because the system can be administered "out of the box" with no custom code or scripting, resulting in less burden on the user's resources. With powerful compression algorithms, Historian can store years of data easily, efficiently and securely online - which aids performance and reduces maintenance for lower costs.
Scalable to 100,000 data points per server, Proficy Historian delivers high-volume data collection and retrieval without sacrificing speed or performance. As opposed to a relational database - the traditional archive for manufacturing and IT - Proficy Historian provides 10-20 times faster read/write performance and 1-millisecond resolution for true real-time data. Additionally, Historian is optimized for "time series" data - while relational databases are built to manage relationships. For example, relational databases can answer questions such as: What batches were shipped last week? What was the largest order last quarter, and who was the customer? Proficy Historian, on the other hand, excels at answering questions such as: What was the hourly unit production standard deviation? What was the 10-minute interpolated average? Proficy Historian is designed to deliver time-series data and calculations quickly, easily and efficiently - easing one of the most critical tasks an archive application must undertake and providing an avenue to manufacturing process improvement.
The new Proficy Historian Version 3.0 adds powerful capabilities, such as:
OPC "Alarms & Events" - Users can collect and store alarms and events from any OPC Alarms & Event server including Proficy HMI / SCADA - iFIX® and CIMPLICITY®, as well as many other SCADA packages. This capability enables users to store all of their plant information - process data, Alarms & Events, and eSignatures - in one integrated platform for improved collection and analysis.
Redundancy and High Availability - All of the data collectors in Version 3.0 can be configured to accommodate "n-level" redundant configurations, so data collection automatically swaps to the best available source should the primary collector fail. In addition, Version 3.0 now supports Microsoft Cluster Server 2003, enabling 24/7/365 data availability for increased uptime.
OSI Software PI System connectivity - Powerful and easy-to-use, two-way PI System connectivity enables data sharing between Proficy Historian and OSI Software. This feature permits users to choose the best migration strategy from the PI System to Proficy Historian. They can move "all at once," incrementally, or even maintain both - all the time having the confidence of knowing that data can be readily shared between the two systems.
Improved National Language Support - Enhancements have been made to Historian's localization capabilities in Version 3.0 including support for running the English-based software on any non-English version of Microsoft Windows and Microsoft Excel that are supported by the English product.
Other new features of Proficy Historian Version 3.0 include usability and performance enhancements such as improved OPC tag browsing, archive compression, collector performance, and connectivity.
About GE Fanuc Automation
GE Fanuc Automation, a joint venture between GE and FANUC LTD of Japan, delivers automation hardware and software designed to help users reduce costs, increase efficiency and enhance profitability. With solutions and services catering to virtually every industrial segment, GE Fanuc Automation provides a diverse array of capabilities and products, including controllers, embedded systems, advanced software, motion control, CNCs, operator interfaces, industrial computers, and lasers. Headquartered in Charlottesville, VA, GE Fanuc Automation is a part of GE Infrastructure and combines the diverse global strengths of the GE family with the local presence customers need to design, develop and maintain their automation investments.
For more information, visit www.gefanuc.com or contact: GE Fanuc Information Center, P.O. Box 8106, Charlottesville, VA 22906, Phone: (800) GE FANUC (800-433-2682), Fax: 434-978-5205, e-mail: gefanuc@gefanuc.com.
Proficy is a trademark and iFIX and CIMPLICITY are registered trademarks of GE Fanuc Automation Americas, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
Alicia Bowers
Leader, Customer Marketing Communications
GE Fanuc Automation Americas, Inc., a unit of GE Infrastructure
717-285-4400, Dialcomm 272-8005
Fax: 434-978-5205
E-mail: alicia.bowers@ge.com
Website: www.gefanuc.com
