Shopfloor Matters
All learning paths
Learning path: Connecting OT and IT

Connecting the plant

From PLCs and SCADA up to MES/MOM, the protocols in between, and where the data is stored.

Start the first article 6 articles, about 24 minutes
0/624 min to go

  1. Step 1 / 3 min read / Not started

    IT vs OT

    IT protects data; OT keeps machines running safely. Why the two worlds think differently, where MES/MOM sits, and how to make convergence work.

  2. Step 2 / 5 min read / Not started

    PLC vs SCADA vs DCS vs MES

    PLCs control machines, SCADA supervises them, a DCS controls process plants and MES/MOM manages the operation. The automation stack, layer by layer.

  3. Step 3 / 4 min read / Not started

    OPC UA vs MQTT

    OPC UA brings structured, secure machine data; MQTT moves data efficiently to many systems. How they compare, and how to pick the right one for each job.

  4. Step 4 / 5 min read / Not started

    Unified namespace (UNS)

    A unified namespace shares live data through a central broker. What a UNS is, its risks, whether it can replace MES, and the alternatives.

  5. Step 5 / 3 min read / Not started

    Historian vs MES

    A historian stores high-frequency process values. MES/MOM reads values too, adds context and runs the work. For most manufacturers, MES/MOM removes the need for a separate historian.

  6. Step 6 / 4 min read / Not started

    Cloud vs on-premises MES

    Cloud vs on-premises MES/MOM compared on security, scalability, upgrades and cost, and why most multi-site MES already depends on the network.

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