WHITE PAPERS
Our clients rely on the wide variety of expertise Skellig engineers bring to their businesses. By breaking down silos and sharing knowledge in our white papers, Skellig Automation aims to push the limits of the Life Sciences industry and advance what’s possible.
Why Life Science Manufacturing Needs Industry 4.0
The traditional 3.0 automation stack (Plant Floor, Control/PLC, SCADA/DCS/, MES, ERP) continues to dominate life sciences manufacturing. However, these systems require discrete connections between each layer. Adopting 4.0 principles can overcome these challenges by changing the way data is connected, contextualized, and utilized.
Unlocking Industry 4.0 across Life Sciences starts with the Unified Namespace (UNS)
The first step towards Industry 4.0 is implementing a Unified Namespace (UNS) architecture, which is a software solution that acts as a centralized hierarchical repository of data, information, and context. Using a PUB/SUB model, a UNS enables data connectivity, bringing benefits to the Life Science industry, where regulatory requirements for traceability and context are critical.
Considerations and Challenges for Implementing a Unified Namespace in the Life Sciences
Implementing a UNS requires architecture that can seamlessly transmit data across the automation stack. Ideally, software and hardware which support the minimum UNS requirements are used. However, if a 3.0 factory has legacy technology, a hybrid UNS approach can provide a practical entry point to Industry 4.0 while respecting cost and time boundaries.
