As Ethernet penetrates more and more into manufacturing environments, businesses are seeking more comprehensive integration of their automation areas with enterprise IT systems. By doing so, large network areas can be set up enabling the best possible return on investment.

PROFINET is based on standard Ethernet, including TCP/IP and other protocols familiar to IT professionals, and thus it integrates easily with enterprise-wide networks. The benefits are obvious: the same tools and methods can be employed for network management on the factory floor.  In some cases even the same kind of network components (switches, cables etc.) can be used.

PROFINET was designed and engineered specifically for the manufacturing environment. Its use of Ethernet has been optimized for time-critical applications within automation, but its Ethernet foundation remains fully in compliance with IT standards.  So, a PROFINET network can deliver the high performance needed for automation without ever compromising its ability to communicate with IT level networks. 

PI has also pioneered ways of interfacing PROFINET data with MES systems. This means information from manufacturing can more easily be made available anywhere in the enterprise, leading to better life cycle management and lowered costs.

Network transparency across the enterprise does however bring some other challenges ... security being one of them, particularly in highly-sensitive process applications. Working in conjunction with relevant authorities, PI is pioneering ways of securely deploying Ethernet-based networks plant-wide without compromising any of the advantages.

Download our White Paper 'PROFINET and IT'.