Overview - ISO/TR 18161:2013 applications integration and profiling
ISO/TR 18161:2013 describes an approach for specifying information exchange requirements between applications in industrial automation. It combines information-exchange modelling from ISO 18435 with manufacturing software capability profiling from ISO 16100 to define interoperable application interfaces. The Technical Report includes templates (AIME/ADME) and MSU (Manufacturing Software Unit) capability profiles and illustrates the method with a smart pump example (pump control + pump diagnostics).
Key topics and technical requirements
- Information exchange requirements modelling
- Use of ISO 18435 elements to model the information exchanged among applications and resources.
- Construction of Application Interaction Matrix Elements (AIME) and Application Domain Matrix Elements (ADME) to represent required interfaces and interoperability relationships.
- Software capability profiling
- Use of ISO 16100 manufacturing software unit (MSU) capability profiles to describe software functionality and behavior for integration and lifecycle use.
- Capability templates and capability class structures (CCS) to organize profile content.
- Application Integration Framework (AIF)
- Alignment with ISO 15745 application integration modelling to identify key interoperability interfaces and create Application Interoperability Profiles (AIP).
- Practical modelling guidance
- Context definition from manufacturing domain models (MDM) and manufacturing domain data (MDD).
- Example procedures and annexes in the report that show constructing AIMEs/ADMEs and MSU profiles (smart pump use case).
- Goal
- Provide a repeatable, standardized approach for specifying what information needs to be exchanged, how software components must behave, and which capabilities support those exchanges.
Applications and who should use it
- System integrators and automation engineers - to define clear application boundaries and interoperability requirements when integrating control, diagnostics, maintenance or prognostics applications.
- Software vendors and OEMs - to publish MSU capability profiles that enable profile matching and ease integration into customer architectures.
- Plant architects and solution designers - to reduce vendor-specific solutions and support modular system design using standardized AIME/ADME templates.
- Maintenance and lifecycle managers - to ensure diagnostic and prognostic applications interoperate reliably with control systems (illustrated by the smart pump example).
Practical benefits
- Improved clarity of information exchanges and responsibilities between applications
- Easier profile matching and reduced integration cost
- Support for modular, vendor-agnostic architectures and lifecycle reuse of application software
Related standards
- ISO 16100 series (MSU capability profiling; Parts 3 and 5 referenced)
- ISO 18435 (application integration elements; Part 2 referenced; Part 1 overview)
- ISO 15745 (application integration framework and AIP notation)
Keywords: ISO/TR 18161:2013, applications integration, information exchange requirements, software capability profiling, AIME, ADME, MSU capability profiles, application interoperability, smart pump.