Unified Name Space - The Space to Watch

Introduction

Unified Namespace (UNS) is causing a stir in the industrial landscape. It's being hailed as the Robin Hood of manufacturing data because it democratises access to data, making it available to everyone who needs it - taking from the data-rich and giving to the data-poor.

In the era of Industry 4.0, data is the driving force behind efficiency, innovation, and growth in manufacturing. However, the reality is that much of this valuable data remains trapped in silos, hindering the realisation of a truly connected and data-driven enterprise.

Traditional automation in manufacturing follows the ISA-95 standard [1], which defines a hierarchical structure for industrial automation systems. This standard, while valuable for organizing and standardizing systems, can inadvertently contribute to data silos. Each level of the ISA-95 hierarchy may have its own dedicated systems and applications, leading to data fragmentation and limited interoperability between different levels of the organization.

In essence, UNS is a digital data architecture that provides a single source of truth for all data in a manufacturing facility. When implemented, UNS acts as the mechanism where data is reliable and instantly accessible. By implementing UNS, all the different systems and devices in a factory become interconnected, allowing them to share data seamlessly.

What is and is not UNS

Imagine a central hub, where all your manufacturing data converges, is readily available and accessible in real-time to anyone who needs it — a single source of truth for all your industrial information, where master data can be easily and reliably accessed with no discrepancies.

UNS breaks down data silos, enabling seamless communication between devices, applications, and systems across all layers of your operation. This interoperability fosters a data-driven ecosystem where data becomes the primary commodity of the business, available to everyone, from the plant floor to the end consumer.

UNS is - Lightweight, Interoperable, Report by Exception

UNS is characterized by its lightweight communication protocols, ensuring efficient data exchange without overburdening a network. It promotes interoperability, enabling seamless integration of systems from different vendors. UNS typically operates on a "report-by-exception" principle, transmitting only critical data changes to optimize network bandwidth. It is device-centric, prioritizing efficient organization and management of devices with consistent naming. It is also data-centric, focusing on standardizing data naming and tagging for consistent exchange and interpretation. UNS is secure, enabling robust security and access control mechanisms. It is scalable, simplifying device and resource management in large-scale environments. Finally, UNS can be semantically interoperable, ensuring machines, sensors, and computers understand the meaning and context of the data they exchange.

UNS is not a specific software or tool, but rather a concept that can be implemented using various technologies

UNS is not – Prescriptive, Monolithic, Proprietary

It is often a beneficial exercise to state what something is not to clarify the definition of what it is. This helps to avoid the fallacy of pigeonholing:

• UNS is not a specific software or tool, but rather a concept that can be implemented using various technologies. Typical small-scale projects start with open-source technologies for a proof of concept, but open architecture technology is key for long-term success.
• UNS is not solely focused on manufacturing but can be applied to various industries undergoing digital transformation, where digital data is generated.
• UNS is not a rigid, predefined structure, but a flexible and adaptable framework that can accommodate evolving needs.
• UNS is not a standalone solution in itself but requires other components like a broker, a historian, data processing tools, visualization mechanisms, digitization and automation platforms to function fully.
• UNS is not a replacement for IT and OT expertise, but a tool that empowers professionals to converge and manage data more effectively.

Democratization of Data

Data democratization is the practice of providing data access to everyone. In manufacturing, this means empowering everyone within an organization with the ability to access and use the data they need for informed decision-making, without requiring technical expertise intervention. UNS provides a standardized method for all manufacturing data to be accessible, eliminating the need to navigate disparate systems and databases. This one-stop access simplifies data retrieval and analysis, empowering stakeholders to quickly find information when and where they need it.

However, UNS does more than simply provide a method to access data. It also ensures that the data is presented in a clear, concise, and human-readable manner. This is achieved through the use of standardized naming conventions and data models, which make it easy for anyone to interpret and utilize the information.?

Moreover, UNS promotes a culture of data-driven decision-making, by empowering individuals at all levels of the organization to leverage data to solve their unique problems, which is innovation at its core. UNS gives the ability to any employee to problem-solve and innovate, UNS enables everyone to contribute to the organization's success.?

UNS Democratizes Data by:

• Providing easy access to all manufacturing data.
• Standardizing data formats for easy interpretation.?
• Empowering individuals to use data for decision-making.?
• Fostering a collaborative, data-driven culture.

UNS and Digital Transformation

The Unified Namespace (UNS) is not just a data architecture; it's a catalyst for digital transformation in manufacturing. By providing a unified and standardized data environment, UNS empowers organizations to embrace new technologies and supports the transition towards Industry 4.0 and beyond. ?

Digital transformation is not just about adopting new technologies; it's about transforming business processes and creating a data-driven culture. Digital Transformation efforts around automation and digitization can focus on modernizing legacy manufacturing processes. For example, UNS can be used to quickly integrate new data sources from retrofitted equipment, incorporating technologies such as new sensors or Process Analytical Technology (PAT), by providing a unified method for data exchange.

UNS Facilitates Digital Transformation by:

• Breaking Down Data Silos: UNS eliminates the barriers between different systems and data sources, enabling seamless data flow across the entire organization. This allows for a holistic view of operations, fostering collaboration and informed decision-making.
• Enabling Real-Time Insights: UNS provides instant access to real-time data, empowering stakeholders at all levels to monitor operations, identify issues, and respond quickly to changing conditions. This agility is crucial for optimizing processes, reducing downtime, and improving overall efficiency.
• Facilitating Advanced Analytics and Artificial Intelligence / Machine Learning (AI / ML): UNS creates a solid foundation for implementing advanced analytics and AI / ML applications. By providing a unified and standardized data environment, UNS simplifies data preparation and analysis, enabling organizations to extract valuable insights and drive innovation.
• Supporting the Transition to Industry 4.0 and 5.0: UNS aligns with the core principles of Industry 4.0, which emphasizes interconnectivity, automation, and data-driven decision-making. Moreover, it lays the groundwork for Industry 5.0, where human-machine collaboration and sustainability take centre stage.?

Steps to Integrate UNS

Integrating a UNS into your facility is a process that should be approached strategically, it is as much a cultural change as a technological change. The below steps are a generic guide only, as industry-specific considerations will apply.

• Digital Maturity: A digital maturity assessment is the benchmark against which all UNS and digital transformation efforts are measured. By conducting a digital maturity and sustainability assessment (DMSA), you can gain valuable insights into your organization's data, automation, connectivity, sustainability, and leadership practices, allowing you to identify areas for improvement and develop a targeted roadmap for digital transformation [2]. Milestone assessments are beneficial to track progress, identify any deviations from the planned approach, and allow for course correction as needed.
• Start Small: Begin with a pilot project, focusing on a specific use case or area of your operation. This allows you to gain experience, demonstrate value to stakeholders, and fine-tune your approach ahead of scaling to the entire facility.
• Standardize a Naming Convention: Establish a clear and consistent naming convention for your data points and topic namespaces, adopting the ISA-95 method of Enterprise / Site / Area / Line / Cell format is common practice. This ensures data consistency for legacy systems and simplifies the integration of new data-generating systems.
• Technology Stack: Implement a technology stack that prioritizes open architecture whenever possible. This approach promotes interoperability, reduces vendor lock-in, and fosters a more flexible and adaptable UNS implementation. Choose a reliable broker and a robust database to act as your data historian. These components are crucial for efficient data transfer, storage, and retrieval.
• Connect and Don't Assume: Focus on connecting data sources and avoid making assumptions about how the data will be used. The flexibility of UNS allows for various applications and use cases to emerge as data becomes readily available.

Conclusion

The Unified Namespace (UNS) is more than just a technological framework; it's a catalyst for a cultural shift towards data-driven decision-making in the industrial sector. By breaking down data silos, UNS empowers organizations to unlock the true potential of their data, driving efficiency, innovation, and growth in the era of Industry 4.0 and beyond.

The impact of UNS extends far beyond the technical realm, as it fosters collaboration, democratizes access to information, and enables a more agile and responsive organization. UNS is not just about connecting machines; it's about connecting people and ideas.

As the industrial world continues to evolve, UNS will play an increasingly critical role in enabling digital transformation. It's a space ripe with opportunity, and those who embrace it will thrive in the data-driven future of manufacturing. UNS is an exciting space to watch, so watch this space.

Epilogue - UNS Origin Story

The concept of the Unified Namespace (UNS) was born out of a pressing need to address real-world challenges in industrial data management.

A pivotal moment in Industrial communication occurred in 2015 at the International Conference on Communications (ICC). Arlen Nipper, the co-inventor of MQTT, took to the stage to deliver a groundbreaking demonstration.? MQTT (Message Queuing Telemetry Transport) a lightweight messaging protocol designed for resource-constrained devices and low-bandwidth, high-latency networks, making it ideal for the Internet of Things (IoT) [3].? Nipper showcased the power of MQTT by discovering 300 Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs) and all their associated tags in real-time [4].

Witnessing this technological breakthrough, audience member Walker D. Reynolds proclaimed, "The world just changed!" This exclamation marked a foundational moment for UNS.? Reynolds, recognizing the potential of this technology, envisioned a way to address global challenges in industrial environments.? The ability to seamlessly connect and communicate with numerous devices in real-time opened up new possibilities for automation, efficiency, and data-driven decision-making.

Fast forward a couple of years to the early 2000s, while working in the mining industry, Walker encountered firsthand the difficulties posed by disparate data systems, where data entry was manual, where disparate systems didn’t talk to each other, and where duplicate data was unreliable. Walker built a Dynamic Data Exchange (DDE) system within the organization, to draw down data for a single source of truth. The unified name space was born [5]. Ironically, it wasn’t until years later when MQTT became more widely adopted, that it became the de-facto protocol for UNS.? Walker actively promotes UNS through workshops, training, and his online presence. As much as UNS is the space to watch, Walker is equally one to watch for his candid and straightforward communication style, even if it means going against the grain or disrupting the status quo.

In essence, the creation of UNS was driven by the need to solve real-world problems in industrial data management. It's a testament to the power of innovation and collaboration, combining the vision of a lightweight communication protocol, with the need for a unified data architecture to transform the industrial landscape.

References:

1.????? Brandl, D and Johnsson, C (2021) ISA/InTech - Beyond the Pyramid: Using ISA95 for Industry 4.0 and Smart Manufacturing. Available at https://www.isa.org/intech-home/2021/october-2021/features/beyond-the-pyramid-using-isa95-for-industry-4-0-an (Accessed: 2 December 2024).

2.????? Digital Maturity and Sustainability Assessment (DMSA) https://innoglobal.com/what-we-do/digitalisation-and-sustainability (Accessed 2 December 2024).

3.????? Message Queuing Telemetry Transport (MQTT) https://mqtt.org/ (Accessed: 2 December 2024).

4.????? MQTT with Arlen Nipper, Matt Parris and Aron Semle (2024) https://www.iiot.university/podcasts/4-0-solutions-podcast/episodes/2148586263 (Accessed: 2 December 2024).

5.????? Unified Namespace for Industrial IoT: The Masterclass - Ep 33 (2023) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dy1OcOCigmI (Accessed: 2 December 2024).

About the Author

Darren McHugh is Senior Product Manager at InnoGlobal Technology with over 18 years of experience in manufacturing. He holds degrees in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Pharmaceutical and Medical Device Manufacturing, and a Master's in Product Management. Darren empowers manufacturers to achieve their digital transformation goals. He helps them implement smart manufacturing solutions that optimise processes, enhance quality, and drive sustainable growth.

Contact us today to learn how InnoGlobal Technology can transform your manufacturing operations. [email protected]