A data historian is a software that enables the logging of production data from processes that are executed in a manufacturing system. It creates efficiency to storage and timely retrieval of the stored information.
A time-series database (TSDB) is built for storing and retrieving time series data. Data stored in these databases are logged with appropriate time stamps. This makes data handling activities like tracking and monitoring quick and effortless.
When TSDBs were first introduced they were primarily used only for handling financial data relating mostly to volatility of stock trading. Today however, TSDBs find their application across various industries.
Manufacturers use the time-series data historian as the standard method of recording process data. Data stored here is identified with a tag name. The values can be stored either as a numeric or string data type. However, the downside is that tags may not always provide sufficient context to the data. This may require an additional database to associate the data with its attributes. Also, the task of trying to align data from multiple sources to a single unit of information can be a challenge.
Enterprise data historians allow business and administration to access process data to use them in making informed business decisions that will lead to operational excellence. As the volume of data produced continues to increase, it becomes imperative for manufacturers to draw insights from data to maximize value of production by improving efficiency of operations.
There are several benefits of enterprise data historians when it comes to optimizing operations and productivity in manufacturing processes. A few advantages of employing enterprise data historians are:
