Data is the basis for a smart industry. SEW-EURODRIVE, for example, a global leader in drive technology and an expert in electrical automation, recognised this early on: physical products are transformed into intelligent, networked solutions through digital services. The basis for this is uniform and consistent data. However, as in many companies, the IT and data landscape grew organically over decades. New systems were added, old ones remained. The result: distributed data silos, inhomogeneous IT architectures and incompatible formats. What was once a clear structure became a complex IT ecosystem. Data for new applications had to be laboriously gathered from various sources and the different data models had to be transformed into the application's model. The goal was therefore clear: move away from scattered individual solutions towards a centralised, comprehensible database that enables easy, secure and consistent access to information.

The approach

Together with SEW, M&M Software GmbH, an international software and digitalisation partner based in St. Georgen in the Black Forest, has developed an enterprise knowledge graph – a centralised platform designed to bring order to the chaos. The basis for this is a data fabric framework based on semantic web technologies. At its core is a uniform semantics that makes data understandable and linkable across systems. With ECLASS as a ‘dictionary’, properties and terms are clearly referenced – “colour” and ‘Farbe’ now mean the same thing. In this way, different sources grow together to form a continuous database, the Enterprise Knowledge Graph. This enables complex queries across all systems and allows data to be provided consistently and automatically.

The collection of ingredients becomes a cookbook

The chaotic pantry is thus transformed into a structured larder: data is harmonised, labelled and linked together in a meaningful way. The collection of ingredients becomes a cookbook: the Knowledge Graph, which links information sources and makes them queryable. This ultimately results in the finished dishes: digital twins that reliably provide applications and smart services with the right information. With the help of the Asset Administration Shell (AAS), M&M ensures that the digital twins are standardised and can be used in all systems.

The customer benefit

The Data Fabric developed by M&M Software made scattered data sources accessible via a uniform interface. Applications now access harmonised data. This saves time, reduces complexity and accelerates processes. This solution also opens up many new possibilities for SEW in terms of digital services, such as predictive maintenance and the connection of the asset management system. Customers now experience their machines throughout their entire life cycle, from development to after-sales. The platform is freely scalable and can be gradually expanded to include additional use cases.

Routine tasks are greatly reduced

The solution is also designed to improve efficiency internally: routine tasks such as data formatting, mapping and integrating new sources are greatly reduced. Data management is improved and lengthy coordination is no longer necessary. The result of the data fabric is valuable insights, new revenue potential and consistently optimised processes.

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