For industrial organizations, data has become a critical asset for driving operational excellence, improving decision-making, and maintaining a competitive edge. Efficient and effective data management is crucial for organizations seeking to harness the full potential of Industry 4.0 and digital transformation. As legacy data historians, such as eDNA, become outdated, many organizations are migrating to more advanced and flexible data historian systems.
However, the process of data historian migration can be complex and challenging, requiring careful planning, execution, and collaboration across various departments and stakeholders. Organizations should consider critical aspects such as tag naming conventions, historical data migration, communication protocols, calculated tags, dashboards, and reporting capabilities to ensure a seamless transition and maximize the value of your new data historian.
Key Aspects for a Seamless Transition
Naming Convention
Legacy historians can hinder the implementation of an effective naming convention with fixed tag IDs and descriptions. However, modern historians offer much greater flexibility, allowing users to choose tag names, descriptions, and other fields that align with their organization’s needs. Additionally, these advanced systems enable post-production tag name changes without creating new tags, making it easier to adapt and improve your naming convention over time.
When migrating from a legacy historian to a modern data management system, it’s the perfect time to review your current tag names and assess whether a new tag naming convention is required. This process should involve engaging with various stakeholders and users across your organization to gather insights on what constitutes a good or bad tag name. By involving key personnel in the discussion, you can ensure that the new naming convention meets the needs of all departments and functions.
Some additional considerations include:
- Consistency is Key
- Document the Convention
- Embrace Abbreviations, but Use Them Wisely
- Prioritize Meaning over Numbers
- Ensure Consistency Between Tag Names and Descriptions
- Implement a Hierarchical Structure
Check out our blog post, What’s In a Tag Name, for more in-depth information on tag naming best practices. By investing time and effort into designing and implementing a robust tag naming convention, you’ll be well on your way to maximizing the value of your data and industrial data historian.
Historical Data
When migrating from eDNA or another legacy data historian to a new system, managing historical data is critical. The amount of historical data you choose to migrate will depend on your organization’s specific needs and the questions you seek to answer with your data. It’s essential to consider factors such as the relevant timeframe for which historical data is needed, the specific problems you are trying to solve with your data, and any regulatory compliance requirements that dictate data retention periods.
Once you have determined the scope of your historical data migration, initiating the export process is crucial. Regardless of the quantity of data, starting the export process as soon as possible will help ensure a smooth transition. Look for a new data historian that provides robust conversion capabilities. A converter tool can efficiently migrate your historical data into the new system, ensuring a single source of truth for your organization.
Partnering with a vendor that understands the importance of seamless historical data migration is vital to a successful transition. Look for a provider with a proven track record of quickly guiding organizations through the process. They should offer powerful data export tools that convert your data into the correct format for their data historian, ensuring a smooth and efficient migration. By leveraging the expertise of experienced vendors, you can confidently navigate the complexities of historical data migration and successfully transition to your new data historian system.
Communications
When migrating from eDNA or another legacy data historian, it’s essential to evaluate the communication protocols that best align with your organization’s requirements. Many industrial organizations are transitioning to more secure protocols like OPC UA (Unified Architecture) to overcome limitations in legacy protocols like OPC DA (Data Access).
When selecting whether to upgrade your communication protocol, consider the following factors:
- Security: Prioritize protocols with robust features like encryption, authentication, and access control.
- Interoperability: Choose a protocol that enables seamless communication between various systems and devices.
- Scalability: Opt for a protocol that can scale with your organization’s growth and evolving needs.
- Performance: Evaluate latency, throughput, and reliability to ensure the protocol meets your real-time data processing and analysis requirements.
- Industry Standards: Consider protocols that adhere to widely accepted standards, such as those established by the OPC Foundation.
To learn more about the differences in OPC standards, check out the OPC Foundation’s article A Beginner’s Guide to OPC.
Calculation Tags
Calculated tags, or script tags, supplement sensor data with derived values using statistical and mathematical equations. By creating calculated tags, you can gain deeper insights into your equipment’s or plant’s efficiency and performance, enabling informed decision-making.
When migrating to a new data historian, identify and export calculated tags from your current system early to ensure a smooth transition. Beyond your existing calculations, consider additional calculated tags to monitor key performance indicators at your organization. Collaborate with subject matter experts to develop robust and meaningful calculated tags.
By leveraging calculated tags, you can transform raw sensor data into actionable insights, optimize processes, improve efficiency, and make data-informed decisions. To learn more, explore our blog post, Calculated Tags: Improving Data Historians.
Dashboards
When migrating to a new data historian, take the opportunity to review and enhance your dashboards. A well-designed dashboard should provide a clear, real-time overview of your operations, enabling users to understand the current status and make informed decisions quickly.
- Consider the following factors when designing or updating your dashboards:
- Context: Ensure clarity by labeling all elements with corresponding units.
- Real-Time Insights: Incorporate historical and real-time data tailored to your needs.
- Built-In Tools: Leverage your new data historian’s capabilities, such as drag-and-drop features, to streamline dashboard creation and sharing.
- Visualizations: Use visualizations to enhance understanding, prioritizing accurate representation over design aesthetics.
- Access: Ensure relevant stakeholders have access to the dashboards they need.
By carefully designing and updating your dashboards during the migration process, you can unlock the full potential of your new data historian and drive data-driven decision-making across your organization.
Reports
When migrating to a new data historian, assess your organization’s reporting requirements to ensure a smooth transition and enhanced reporting capabilities. Focus on ensuring easy report creation and collaboration across all levels of your organization, with all team members having access to view and export reports as necessary.
Review the clarity and relevance of your current reports, identifying the most meaningful ones and ensuring they convey essential information directly. Explore opportunities for customization and automation within your new data historian to better suit your organization’s evolving needs and save time.
In addition, analyze the performance of your new system’s reporting features, considering factors such as speed, data processing capabilities, and scalability. Collaborate closely with your new data historian provider to identify opportunities for improvement and customize your reporting setup to serve your organization’s needs best, unlocking the full potential of your data through enhanced reporting functionality.
How We Help
At HanAra, we understand the complexities and challenges of migrating to a new data historian. Our team of experts provides you with the guidance, tools, and support needed to ensure a smooth and successful transition. By partnering with HanAra, you can leverage our advanced solutions and proven methodology to streamline your migration process, reduce costs, and increase productivity across your organization.
To discover how HanAra can help you unlock the full potential of your data and drive operational excellence, visit our blog post How Data Historian Migration Happens with HanAra. Contact us today to schedule a consultation with our experienced team and learn more about how our cutting-edge solutions can transform your data management capabilities. With HanAra by your side, you can confidently navigate the migration process and seamlessly transition to a more powerful, efficient, and secure data historian system.