What is PERA ?

PERA stands for Purdue Enterprise Reference Architecture. The PERA acronym is synonimous with the term " PERA Life Cycle Model" or "PERA Framework" (this is sometimes called the "PERA Wind-chime"). Later, the term PERA came to be used as an adjective to define a number of conecpts and tools that built on the original PERA Life Cycle Model.

As time went on, use of the term PERA grew to include a set of tools and concepts which are presented together on this website. These include:

• Concepts of maximum and minimum lines of automation as applied to both Control and Information Systems, and Manufacturing Facilities.

• Concepts explaining the effect of recycle and time delays on the design and operation of facilities.

• The PERA Master Planning Methodology which is used during Phase 1, the Enterprise Study Phase.

• Concepts for dividing Enterprise Systems into Physical and Logical Architectures.

• Example Logical System Architectures from various industries.

• Physical Systems Architecture Concepts including "Levels" and the "4Rs".

• Reference (example) Physical architectures from various industries.

• Purdue Reference Model for CIM, including Generic Reference Data Flow Models

• Mapping of hardware and software products within the PERA Framework.