Manufacturing
Integration of production lines, robots, PLCs and management systems into a single data layer ready for analytics and operations, connected station by station without stopping the production line to get there.
One data layer for the whole production line
A modern production line generates data at every station, but the point where it all comes together rarely exists. Captia Connect builds it: integrating lines, robots, PLCs and management systems into a single data layer ready for analytics and operations. On top of PLC reading, the manufacturing-specific pieces are robot connectivity, read from the controller without touching cell programming or safety, computer vision connectivity to bring existing inspection results into the operational data, and ERP integration to close the loop between plant and management.
Every signal is delivered with context: order, shift, reference, batch. Exploiting that data belongs to another layer, described in Captia AI for manufacturing. Projects start with one line, connected as a complete perimeter, and expand by repeating a validated pattern, with most of the work done while the line keeps running.
Frequently asked questions
- Can robot data be read without touching its programming?
- Yes, and it is the default approach. The robot controller already generates status, production and alarm information; the work consists of reading it and bringing it to the data layer without modifying the robot programming or the safety of the cell. The cell stays certified as it is and the data becomes available outside it.
- What does connecting computer vision to the rest of the plant data add?
- Context. An inspection camera says whether each part passes; crossed with line data, that same result says in which shift rejects rise, with which material batch and after which machine adjustment. The inspection results your cameras already produce are integrated into the operational data layer for quality and traceability.
- What is ERP integration with the line for?
- Closing the loop between plant and management. Production orders reach the plant without transcription, and consumption and manufacturing data reach the ERP without paper reports. Purchasing, planning and accounting stop working with days-old data and start working with what the line actually did.
- Does this data layer include dashboards and analytics?
- No, and the separation is deliberate. Captia Connect delivers the data layer: integrated signals with context and verified quality. Exploiting that data, from dashboards to predictive maintenance, belongs to Captia’s AI unit. Each layer has its specialist and both are designed to fit together.