Machine data

What machine data is, how it is recorded, and why context matters.

Machine data is the foundation for any data-driven analysis in manufacturing. In this section, you'll learn how machine data is created, what it tells you, and where its limitations lie.

From machine to analysis

Every production line consists of components controlled by controllers. These controllers (PLCs, sensors, gateways) are the data sources from which ENLYZE reads data.

From these data sources, ENLYZE selectively picks variables and records them as time series. This creates a continuous picture of what happens on the machine.

Machine data alone, however, only shows the how of production: speeds, temperatures, pressures. For the what (which product, which order), you need the production context, which is established through order data from the ERP or MES system.

Three tiers of production data

Tier	Content	Source
Data sources	Controllers, sensors, gateways	Shop floor (physical)
Machine data	Time series from data sources (temperatures, pressures, speeds)	ENLYZE via edge device
Production context	Orders, products, target values, time ranges	ERP/MES system

The combination of machine data and production context enables analyses such as OEE calculation, target-actual comparisons, product analysis, and energy evaluations.

Topics in this section

• Data sources: Where machine data comes from and what types exist.

• Variables & time series: What is recorded and how time series are created.