Modern factory automation is a complex process. Oftentimes, there are dozens of machines communicating and relaying large amounts of information and intricate processes between each one another. With all these nuances and complexities, it isn’t difficult to see how things can quickly become confusing and/or overwhelming to even the most competent employee. However, the Totally Integrated Automation (TIA) Portal works to mitigate these potential roadblocks by providing your business with a complete range of digitalized automation services, from transparent operation to digital planning and integrated engineering. Below, we’ll walk through the basics of the TIA Portal, the advantages it offers - whether it’s shortening your businesses’ time to market or increasing your productivity through additional diagnostics and energy management functions - and how it can benefit your company in the long run.

The standardization provided by the TIA Portal allows for the plant operators to get a handle on the increasing complexity of applications. This standardization can be classified into four stages: 

• Sharing Hardware: Automation Markup Language (AML) allows for the time-saving exchange of hardware data between interfaces.
• Automatically Generate Program Code: Tools such as Openness Scripter or TIA Portal Openness Configurator automatically generate sections of PLC code and display, saving valuable time.
• Function Tests Based on Simulations: The ability to simulate and test the PLC program and resolve errors is another benefit of standardization.
• Line Integration using Open Interfaces: By supporting industrial standards like OMAC PackML, OPC UA, and Weihenstephan, new machines are much easier to integrate into existing lines.

These standardization tools allow for a more integrated engineering workflow, reduce the time spent on extraneous tasks, and therefore can help save your business money.

Continuous Integration

Continuous integration with the TIA Portal can help improve software quality and reduce engineering costs in automation. In its simplest form, continuous integration allows users to automatically generate a build from individual software modules and test the software functions. Then those results are returned to the programmers as a report in order to fix any errors. This workflow eliminates excess time and streamlines productivity, thereby saving your company time and money.

Conclusion

The TIA Portal helps consolidate and streamline work into an accessible and easy to use interface. By utilizing standardization and continuous integration, the TIA Portal works to eliminate extraneous tasks, improve automation workflow, and help your employees manage time and energy, saving your business money in the long run.

 Interested in learning more, connect with an ACD expert!

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