Distributed industrial information systems: Design and experience

Distributed systems have proliferated in informatic applications during the last few years. Reasons for distribution are various, and come from different fields, such as: user requirements; technology; and market evolution itself. The introduction of computers in office/factory floors is many often bottom-up. When the time comes to bridge the gap towards integration, the situation is sometimes chaotic, with a number of proprietary solutions, de-facto standards and customised protocols at stake. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the motivations, design of, and real-life experience with, a distributed industrial information system platform, integrating the whole information Row of industrial facilities.