Automation Pyramid

About automation pyramid

level 1:-

• The first level or “field level” comprises the physical devices existing in an industry such as actuators and sensors.
• It is at the lowest position in the control process and as such, the lowest level of the automation pyramid. At this point, the control of the processes relating to production and manufacturing takes place. This can be done via the corresponding sensors and actuators that give the name to the level. 
• In the field level, data are collected which relate to the process.

level 2:-

• The second level or “control level” includes logical devices such as PCs, PLCs, PIDs, etc.
• The control level uses these devices to control and “run” the devices in the field level that actually do the physical work. 
• They take in information from all of the sensors, switches, and other input devices to make decisions on what outputs to turn on to complete the programmed task.

level 3:-

• The third level of the automation pyramid is known as the supervisory level. Where the previous level utilizes PLCs, this level utilizes SCADA. SCADA is short for supervisory control and data acquisition.
• SCADA is essentially the combination of the previous levels used to access data and control systems from a single location. The important thing to remember about SCADA is that it can monitor and control multiple systems from a single location.

level 4:-

• The manufacturing execution systems or MES are at a higher level or “planning level”.
• This level utilizes a computer management system known as MES or manufacturing execution system.
• MES monitors the entire manufacturing process in a plant or factory from the raw materials to the finished product.

level 5:-

• The top of the pyramid (“management level”) is comprised of the companies integrated management system which is known as the ERP or enterprise resource planning.
• This is where a company’s top management can see and control their operations. 
• This allows the business to be able to monitor all levels of the business from manufacturing, to sales, to purchasing, to finance and payroll, plus many others.

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