Vertical integration of production plants & ERP systems for consistent Industrie 4.0 infrastructures.

A close collaboration has begun between COPA-DATA and COSMO CONSULT, the leading pan-European Microsoft Partner for the enterprise resource planning (ERP) solution Microsoft Dynamics NAV. The goal of this partnership is to offer customers a simple and secure real-time connection of the process level with Microsoft Dynamics NAV, and thereby create a seamless information flow between the ERP level and the production environment.

In many industrial firms there is still a gap between the planning and administrative level and the production control level. Valuable information such as process and production data are often fragmented or only partially exchanged. Only a complete integration of the two worlds – ERP and process level – can offer a continuous and consistent information exchange between production, planning and control, thereby allowing for well-thought-out planning and a sophisticated corporate structure.

More consistent, transparent information flow
Using zenon software, companies can achieve a simple and secure real-time connection of the process level with Microsoft Dynamics NAV. Information from production can be quickly processed at an administrative level and the requirements of the ERP system are implemented directly at the process level.

Flexible interface connects system environments
The Microsoft Dynamics Connector sends data on relevant processes to the ERP level via a bidirectional interface, while simultaneously receiving control instructions. Companies can hereby directly connect their process level with the ERP level and receive a complete information overview. Production data and events are available in real-time and allow quick intervention. This enables optimal staff and material investment, because production data is immediately available. The Microsoft Dynamics Connector can be implemented as an independent tool or in interplay with zenon as an HMI/SCADA system for the visualisation and control of industrial processes.

"We would like to achieve the highest level of integration of all business processes for our customers. To reach maximum transparency over all processes and corporate areas we need a smooth data exchange across all production and logistic zones – whether it is to identify an order in a production process or to examine current key performance indicators. With COPA-DATA we are able to offer this to our customers and interested parties," explains Gerrit Schiller, Executive Vice President of COSMO CONSULT AG.

Bundled competencies
The partnership of the two companies, COPA-DATA and COSMO CONSULT, enables combined activity on the market, the ability to bundle competencies and benefit interested parties and customers with jointly applied projects.

"We are very pleased about the collaboration with COSMO CONSULT. Together we can offer a wide range of customers and interested parties a professional end-to-end solution – from order processing, to production, right up to delivery – and thereby achieve real added value," adds Stefan Reuther, Head of Business Intelligence at COPA-DATA GmbH. "Thanks to the collaboration, our customers can profit from seamless communication, a complete overview of all required information, as well as a more efficient production."