Discover What Secrets Your Data Can Reveal

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Configuring Instead of Programming

In order to turn digital data into real-time knowledge, XHQ Operations Intelligence collects relevant data from all connected systems. It proceeds in a strictly non-invasive manner. It does not change data sets. Instead, XHQ uses a library of interfaces to extract data. These connectors are already available preconfigured for many systems established in the market and only have to be adapted for the individual use.

If not relevant for archiving purposes, XHQ also does not store the collected data, but calls it on request and then places it in a real-time cache. From here, information can be distributed to many users — without additional loads on the systems that provide the data. The Operations Intelligence solution is based on the simple combination of individual components, for instance parameters or SQL queries, including their graphical representation. Components can be reused and thus transferred from one production unit to another or from one production site to another — the entire system is scalable.

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Adding further data sources, adjusting existing components, or creating new ones is easy and does not require any additional programming. You perform the complete configuration from one central location. From here, you can configure the components, the entire information model, and the visualization of the information using graphical editors. Power users create company-wide intelligent dashboards and the overall information model for everyone to use. In addition, users can create their own personalized views to suit their individual needs.

Security is one of the key concepts of XHQ Operations Intelligence. “When talking about the integration of our system into existing IT landscapes, we use the term ‘good citizen’,” explains Robert Waltersdorfer, Head of XHQ Portfolio Management. “We take this very seriously since we know how essential IT security is for our customers today. With every release, XHQ is up to date with the security and IT updates.” For instance, XHQ integrates with the commonly used Active Directory security systems for user authentication and supports secure communication with https.

Targeted Information — Anytime, Anywhere

The new XHQ 5.0 adds support for mobility. The comprehensive support of mobile devices allows you to access current business and operational data from everywhere via browser and secure connection. With one single system, installed and managed from one central location, all stakeholders — from the maintenance shift supervisor all the way to management — can receive all relevant information from very diverse sources. Systems which were previously completely separate now work together to provide contextualized, company-wide transparency — on desktop computers, laptops, tablets, or smartphones. XHQ supports real-time data connectivity via internet and intranet and is thus as valuable for long-term strategy planning as for short-term decisions in critical situations.

“Version 5.0 also extends XHQ’s rich set of interfaces,” Waltersdorfer explains further, “In both directions: we updated the list of our connectors and thus made some important systems in the chemicals industry available to XHQ. We also added support for OData, which is an industry standard web interface. This new capability allows third party applications such as Microsoft Power BI to make use of XHQ information.”

As a vendor-neutral software, XHQ can add value for almost all process industry plants. It can help enhance the potential provided by digitalization in one first step. Combination with other products from the Siemens portfolio, such as the process control system Simatic PCS 7 or the plant lifecycle management solution Comos, significantly increases the leverage of the system. But the seamless interaction between these systems is by far not the end of optimization possibilities along the value-added chain. Using cloud-based services such as Mindsphere, the open operating system for the Internet of Things by Siemens, is one of the next goals of the XHQ developers.

* The author is Marketing Product Manager XHQ, Siemens AG, Houston, Texas/USA.

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