Misplaced Pages

#96903

33-412: The system integrator integrates discrete systems utilizing a variety of techniques such as computer networking , enterprise application integration , business process management or manual programming . System integration involves integrating existing, often disparate systems in such a way "that focuses on increasing value to the customer" (e.g., improved product quality and performance) while at

66-471: A data system is incompatible or not integrated with other data systems. This incompatibility may occur in the technical architecture, in the application architecture , or in the data architecture of any data system. However, since it has been shown that established data modeling methods are the root cause of the data integration problem, most data systems are at least incompatible in the data architecture layer. In understanding organizational behaviour ,

99-724: A data transformation service as well to help convert between application-specific and common formats. This is done in two steps: the adapter converts information from the application's format to the bus' common format. Then, semantic transformations are applied on this (converting zip codes to city names, splitting/merging objects from one application into objects in the other applications, and so on). System integration can be challenging for organizations and these challenges can diminish their overall return on investment after implementing new software solutions. Some of these challenges include lack of trust and willingness to share data with other companies, unwillingness to outsource various operations to

132-479: A designer/engineer, bringing together a wide array of components from various manufacturers to accomplish the goal of creating a unified, functioning system that meets the needs of the client. Systems integrators are usually involved in the selection of instruments and control components from among various OEMs to determine the specific mix of output, function, interconnection, program storage, controls, and user interfaces required for specific projects. The integrator

165-450: A hierarchy of main and sub-control stations with varying degrees of access. The network can be designed such that the controls for this system can be on an established timeline, or controlled in real time by astronomical clocks, audio/motion/IR sensors, or various means of user interface (buttons, touch-pads, consoles). This system might utilize a primary controller that can access the entire system, and satellite control interfaces linked via

198-741: A multi-button panel that would adjust lighting only in that ballroom, while a cabaret space with a stage would require an access code that would give employees access to the stage lighting, while the IT manager could use the same panel to access the main controls for the networks. System Integrators in the automation industry typically provide the product and application experience in implementing complex automation solutions. Often, System Integrators are aligned with automation vendors, joining their various System Integrator programs for access to development products, resources and technical support. System integrators are tightly linked to their accounts and often are viewed as

231-460: A network backbone that would determine functionality based on access codes. For example, a casino might use a networked system that interfaces with architectural lighting, stage lighting, special effects (such as fog machines or fountains), and media content routed to a media server. The primary controller would have access to all devices on the network, while individual control stations could have varying levels of functionality. A ballroom might have

264-420: A system or a GUI . A systems integrator will tend to benefit from being a generalist, knowing a lot about a large number of products. Systems integration includes a substantial amount of diagnostic and troubleshooting work. The ability to research existing products and software components is also helpful. Creation of these information systems may include designing or building customized prototypes or concepts. In

297-519: A third party, lack of clear communication and responsibilities, disagreement from partners on where functionality should reside, high cost of integration, difficulty finding good talents, data silos , and common API standards. These challenges result in creating hurdles that "prevent or slow down business systems integration within and among companies". Clear communication and simplified information exchange are key elements in building long term system integrations that can support business requirements. On

330-522: A variant of the principal–agent problem . A silo mentality primarily occurs in larger organizations and can lead to poorer performance and has a negative impact on the corporate culture . Silo mentalities can be countered by the introduction of shared goals, the increase of internal networking activities and the flattening of hierarchies . Predictors for the occurrence of silos are Gleeson and Rozo suggest that The silo mindset does not appear accidentally ... more often than not, silos are

363-407: Is a person or company that specializes in bringing together component subsystems into a whole and ensuring that those subsystems function together, a practice known as system integration . They also solve problems of automation . Systems integrators may work in many fields but the term is generally used in the information technology (IT) field such as computer networking , the defense industry ,

SECTION 10

#1732844696097

396-467: Is an example of a systems integrator in the defense industry. 140A Warrant Officers assigned to Brigade Combat Teams (BCT) integrate systems with multiple operating systems (OS) and hardware configurations – that include: UNIX , Linux & Microsoft Windows Others can fill a similar role at the Division level and higher. In entertainment and architectural installations, systems integrators function as

429-447: Is generally responsible for generating the control riser, collaborating with the lighting consultant/ AV consultant on the function programming, and will commission the system once installed. Often (but not always) the system integrator will also be the vendor for projects they are commissioning, and will collaborate with the lighting designer on the artistic design. As lighting and A/V systems increase in their level of sophistication, and

462-421: Is how to harness all the information available, from the various information generators (or sensors) into one complete picture. As well as the design of the actual interfaces much effort is being put into presenting the information in a useful manner. The level of information, needed by the different levels in the military structure, and the relevance of the information (information can become outdated in seconds)

495-447: Is likely that the problems to be solved have not been solved before except in the broadest sense. They are likely to include new and challenging problems with an input from a broad range of engineers where the system integration engineer "pulls it all together." Systems integrators generally have to be good at matching clients needs with existing products. An inductive reasoning aptitude is useful for quickly understanding how to operate

528-475: Is not adequately shared but rather remains sequestered within each system or subsystem, figuratively trapped within a container like grain is trapped within a silo : there may be much of it, and it may be stacked quite high and freely available within those limits, but it has no effect outside those limits. Such data silos are proving to be an obstacle for businesses wishing to use data mining to make productive use of their data. Information silos occur whenever

561-526: Is so variable that it may be necessary to have more than one system connected. Another problem is how information is networked. The Internet may seem to be an obvious solution, but it is vulnerable to denial of service and physical destruction of the key 'hubs'. One answer is to use a dedicated military communication system, but the bandwidth needed would be astronomical in such a system. Army Warrant Officer (United States) military occupational specialty (MOS) 140A – Command and Control Systems Technician

594-441: Is the process of integrating subsystems according to their functionality by creating functional entities also referred to as silos . The benefit of this method is that the integration is performed quickly and involves only the necessary vendors, therefore, this method is cheaper in the short term. On the other hand, cost-of-ownership can be substantially higher than seen in other methods, since in case of new or enhanced functionality,

627-554: Is to implement the new interface between the ESB and the new subsystem. The horizontal scheme can be misleading, however, if it is thought that the cost of intermediate data transformation or the cost of shifting responsibility over business logic can be avoided. Industrial lifecycle integration is a system integration process that considers four categories or stages of integration: initial system implementation, engineering and design, project services, and operations. This approach incorporates

660-541: The mass media , enterprise application integration , business process management or manual computer programming . Data quality issues are an important part of the work of systems integrators. A system integration engineer needs a broad range of skills and is likely to be defined by a breadth of knowledge rather than a depth of knowledge. These skills are likely to include software , systems and enterprise architecture, software and hardware engineering, interface protocols , and general problem solving skills. It

693-436: The ESB. The ESB is capable of translating the interface into another interface. This allows cutting the costs of integration and provides extreme flexibility. With systems integrated using this method, it is possible to completely replace one subsystem with another subsystem which provides similar functionality but exports different interfaces, all this completely transparent for the rest of the subsystems. The only action required

SECTION 20

#1732844696097

726-440: The application's front-end, and offload querying and reporting from expensive operational systems to cheaper commodity systems (which can save costs, enable scalability, and free up processing power on the main operational system). Usually, an extensive cost-benefit analysis is undertaken to help determine whether an integration project is worth the effort. System integrator A systems integrator (or system integrator )

759-406: The connections are reminiscent of a star, but when the overall diagram of the system is presented, the connections look like spaghetti, hence the name of this method. The cost varies because of the interfaces that subsystems are exporting. In a case where the subsystems are exporting heterogeneous or proprietary interfaces, the integration cost can substantially rise. Time and costs needed to integrate

792-473: The defense industry, the job of 'Systems Integration' engineer is growing in importance as defense systems become more 'connected'. As well as integrating new systems, the task of integrating current systems is attracting a lot of research and effort. It is only in recent years that systems have started to be deployed that can interconnect with each other; most systems were designed as 'stovepipe' designs with no thought to future connectivity. The current problem

825-403: The engineering departments for small manufacturers, handling their automation system installation, commissioning, long term maintenance and security. Data silos An information silo , or a group of such silos, is an insular management system in which one information system or subsystem is incapable of reciprocal operation with others that are, or should be, related. Thus information

858-594: The number of manufacturers for components of these systems increases, so does the demand for systems integrators. Common data protocols involved in entertainment and architectural systems are Digital Multiplexing (or DMX512-A) , Remote Device Management (or RDM) , Art-Net , ACN or sACN (Streaming Architecture for Control Networks), Analog, and various proprietary control software from a variety of manufacturers. Systems Integrators design many distributed nodes in traditional star or ring topologies, or customize system layout for specific installations. The network will have

891-409: The only possible way to implement (scale the system) would be by implementing another silo. Reusing subsystems to create another functionality is not possible. Star integration , also known as spaghetti integration , is a process of systems integration where each system is interconnected to each of the remaining subsystems. When observed from the perspective of the subsystem which is being integrated,

924-409: The other hand, system integration projects can be incredibly rewarding. For out-of-date, legacy systems, different forms of integration offer the ability to enable real-time data sharing. This can enable, for example, publisher-subscriber data distribution models, consolidated databases, event-driven architectures , reduce manual user data entry (which can also help reduce errors), refresh or modernize

957-502: The requirements of each lifecycle stage of the industrial asset when integrating systems and subsystems. The key output is a standardized data architecture that can function throughout the life of the asset. A common data format is an integration method to avoid every adapter having to convert data to/from every other applications' formats, Enterprise application integration (EAI) systems usually stipulate an application-independent (or common) data format. The EAI system usually provides

990-443: The result of a conflicted leadership team ... A unified leadership team will encourage trust, create empowerment, and break managers out of their "my department" mentality and into the "our organization" mentality. The term functional silo syndrome was coined in 1988 by Phil S. Ensor (1931–2018) who worked in organizational development and employee relations for Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company and Eaton Corporation , and as

1023-409: The same time providing value to the company (e.g., reducing operational costs and improving response time). In the modern world connected by Internet , the role of system integration engineers is important: more and more systems are designed to connect, both within the system under construction and to systems that are already deployed. Vertical integration (as opposed to " horizontal integration ")

System integration - Misplaced Pages Continue

1056-490: The systems increase exponentially when adding additional subsystems. From the feature perspective, this method often seems preferable, due to the extreme flexibility of the reuse of functionality. Horizontal integration or Enterprise Service Bus (ESB) is an integration method in which a specialized subsystem is dedicated to communication between other subsystems. This allows cutting the number of connections (interfaces) to only one per subsystem which will connect directly to

1089-472: The term silo mentality often refers to a mindset which creates and maintains information silos within an organization. A silo mentality is created by the divergent goals of different organizational units : it is defined by the Business Dictionary as "a mindset present when certain departments or sectors do not wish to share information with others in the same company". It can also be described as

#96903