Architecture Design
We design the technical and functional architecture of the solution adapted to your current infrastructure: which systems integrate, how data flows between plant and management and which pieces are needed before investing in new technology.
Industrial systems architecture design: overview
Industrial architecture design settles, before anything is installed, how machines, sensors, networks, databases and management applications will fit together. Captia Technology designs on top of the infrastructure you already run: an ageing PLC in stable production gets integrated, not replaced. We think in four layers (OT, data, application and business) and spend most of the design effort on the interfaces between them.
Our design principles: no rip-and-replace, phased scalability starting from a pilot line, open standards such as OPC UA, MQTT and REST APIs instead of proprietary connectors, and single-source data capture so nothing is typed twice. That tackles the usual symptoms of a fragmented architecture: data silos, point-to-point integrations nobody dares touch, undocumented dependencies on a single person and software that sits half used.
You receive working technical documents: a layered architecture diagram, a data-flow map, functional specifications for each integration, technology selection criteria and a phased implementation proposal. The documentation is yours and vendor-independent. It usually builds on an operational diagnosis and feeds a transformation roadmap.
How it connects to the system
This solution fits the Captia architecture: it defines the diagnosis and prioritisation frame that activates Connect, AI, Energy and Service.
Key concepts
Other solutions
- Operational Diagnosis
We analyse your operation to identify inefficiencies, visibility gaps and improvement opportunities. Field work on the shop floor, evidence-based analysis and actionable deliverables: an operational assessment, a systems map and prioritised quick wins.
- Transformation Roadmap
We define a prioritised, actionable Industry 4.0 transformation plan aligned with your execution capacity. We start from the diagnosis findings and order initiatives by impact, effort and technical dependencies, in a clear sequence of phases.
- Industrial Automation
We identify and design the industrial processes that can be automated to gain efficiency. We assess each case on operational criteria, with no product catalogue conditioning the recommendation, and document the basis for the decision.
Frequently asked questions
- Do we need to replace our current systems to adopt a new architecture?
- No. Our design principle is to avoid rip-and-replace: systems that work are integrated through data layers and open standards such as OPC UA or MQTT. We only recommend replacing equipment or software when there is a concrete operational reason, such as obsolescence without spare parts, a security risk or a proven bottleneck.
- What does the company receive at the end of the architecture design?
- Actionable technical documentation: a layered architecture diagram, a data-flow map, functional specifications for each integration, technology selection criteria and a phased implementation proposal. It belongs to the client and is vendor-independent, so it works whether Captia Technology implements it or another team does.
- Is a prior diagnosis required before designing the architecture?
- It is strongly recommended. The design relies on a reliable inventory of what already exists: equipment, versions, protocols, integrations and manual processes. That inventory usually comes from a prior operational diagnosis. If the company already has this information documented and up to date, we can start from it and shorten the initial phase.
- Is the architecture implemented all at once or in phases?
- In phases. The design covers the whole plant, but implementation is split into stages that fit the budget and the production shutdown calendar. The usual path is to start with a pilot line, validate the integration pattern and then extend it to the rest, following a roadmap with explicit priorities and dependencies.