12. Integration Layer

The INTEGRATION LAYER of SmartFactoryKL is achieved with the help of IBMs Watson IoT platform. The platform forms the central interface between OT (operation technology) and IT (information technology) and serves as a cross-layer instance for connecting the manufacturer‘s clouds. In terms of the vertical integration of all production processes, the integration layer takes on the role of a compiler: simultaneously, exercising data sovereignty over the shop floor. It captures content, protocols, and data formats from the plant (for example, condition data from the modules and Edge Devices) and, in a targeted manner, forwards them to the associated cloud. In addition, various analytical, cognitive, and DevOps services from the Watson IoT platform are used to map aspects like operational excellence, predictive maintenance, and quality assurance in a multi-cloud scenario in the context of horizontal integration. This makes it possible to show the product, all modules, and even decisions from the IT systems to the worker in real time (Digital Twin).