The use of propriety field dc-vices lsensorslactuatorsl. machining tool controllers, and manufacturilty
process machinery typically leads to the deployment of dedicated field area and control networks,
developed to link specific devices and systems. This creates "islands of autolnation“ integrated locally
around specific and freqttently incompatible network technologies and data representations. The inte-
gration solutions involve both communication infrastructure, and applications interfaces and data rep-
resentation. The integration. in the context of communication aspects, involving different plant
automation units or even separate automation sections within at unit. is frequently referred to as horizontal
irttggrnfifln, The term vertical inlcgmtion refers to the integration among different levels of the plant or
enterprise hierarchy. from field devices via manufacturing execution systems to business applications.