Hardware Products for a "Generic" Process Plant during the Operations Phase

Click on the appropriate area on the Physical Architecture Diagram where the hardware or hardware-related software product will be applied.

Products are divided by "Level" in the System Architecture (see Level Design Article ). Note that relative ratings of products (Market Share, Cost, Technology, and Service) for a certain product may be different when viewed in terms of a specific industry.

Level 1 to 3 - Process Control Hardware

Generic Process Area (click on Product Class to add and view Product ratings)

Generic Packaging Area

Architecture Level	Product Class
Level 0 - Sensors & Actuators	Modulating Control Valves
	On/Off Control Valves
	Linear Actuators
	Linear Position Sensors
	Bar Code Printers
	Bar Code Readers
	Optical Inspection Subsystems
Level 1 - Regulatory Control and Interlocking	PLCs - Programmable Logic Controllers
	Palletizer Robot Controllers
	Data Loggers and Recorders
Level 2 - Human-Machine Interface	PC-based Interfaces
	DCS based Interfaces
	Panel-Mounted Displays
	Radio-Linked Displays
	Panel-Mounted Instruments
Level 3 - Supervisory Optimization	Product Tracking Computer
	Statistical Weight/Fill Controller

Warehouse

Architecture Level	Product Class
Level 0 - Sensors & Actuators	Conveyor Diverters
	Proximity/Photo Sensors
	Bar Code Printers
	Bar Code Readers
	Transponder Readers
	Optical Inspection Subsystems
Level 1 - Regulatory Control and Interlocking	PLCs - Programmable Logic Controllers
Level 2 - Human-Machine Interface	PC-based Interfaces
	Radio Linked Displays
	Panel-Mounted Instruments
Level 3 - Supervisory Optimization	Automated Storage and Retrieval System
	Loading Dock Optimizer

Power House

Architecture Level	Product Class
Level 0 - Sensors & Actuators	Control Valves
	Process Sensors
	Combustion Analyzers
Level 1 - Regulatory Control and Interlocking	PLCs - Programmable Logic Controllers
	DCS - Distributed Contol Systems
	Data Loggers and Recorders
Level 2 - Human-Machine Interface	PC-based Interfaces
	DCS based Interfaces
	Panel-Mounted Instruments
Level 3 - Supervisory Optimization	Data Historian
	Combustion Optimizer
	Power Demand Controller

Level 4 - Site-Wide MES Hardware

Level 5 - Plant D/P & MIS Hardware

Architecture Level	Product Class
Level 5 - Plant D/P and MIS Hardware	Accounting System
	Human Resources Hardware
	Management Information Systems Hardware

Level 5 - Plant Engineering & Technical Hardware

Architecture Level	Product Class
Level 5 - Plant Engineering & Technical Systems Hardware	CAD Hardware
	Engineering Document Management Hardware
	PLC and DCS Programming Hardware

Level 6 - Corporate D/P & MIS Hardware

Architecture Level	Product Class
Level 6 - Corporate D/P & MIS Hardware	Corporate Database Server Hardware
	Corporate Webserver Hardware
	Corporate Network Monitoring Hardware
	Corporate WAN Hardware

The hardware required for Corporate Data Processing and Management Information Systems is not generally specialized for particular applications. (such as Financial Consolitation, Executive Information Systems, Financial Planning, etc.) but is likely to be "high end" or even mainframe general purpose computing systems with large storage capacity and processing power.

These systems tend to be highly standardized within a given corporation, often limited to a single vendor at least for the CPU and mass storage equipment. Vendor choices are made as part of strategic plans, often remaining consistent for years, or even decades.

The "industry sector" has relatively little influence on this hardware. Instead, this is influenced more by the "scale" of the central DP operation, with smaller facilities tending to smaller vendors, and major corporations dealing with the largest international vendors.

Level 6 - Corporate Engineering & Technical Systems Hardware

Architecture Level	Product Class
Level 6 - Corporate Engineering & Technical Systems Hardware	PLC and DCS Programming Hardware
	Simulation and testing Hardware
	Engineering Records Management Hardware