Glossary · Automation fundamentals, platforms and components
Enterprise level
Also known as: Business level, ERP level
German: Unternehmensebene
In the automation pyramid, the enterprise level is the top layer, where business systems such as enterprise resource planning (ERP) handle planning, orders, procurement and finance. It corresponds to level 4 of ISA-95 / IEC 62264.
- Automation components
In one sentence
The enterprise level is the top layer of the automation pyramid, where ERP systems handle planning, orders, procurement and finance.
Example
The ERP system at the enterprise level releases a production order, which the MES breaks down into jobs for the lines.
How it applies
- Engineering: Interfaces between the enterprise level and manufacturing operations are described in ISA-95 / IEC 62264, which defines the exchanged information such as production schedules and performance.
- Security: The enterprise level is part of the IT network; connections to OT should pass through a demilitarized zone rather than direct links.
- Documentation: Interface documents should state which data comes from the enterprise level (orders, materials, master data) and which system is the Source of truth for each item.
Enterprise level vs. operations management level
Level 4 plans the business on a scale of days to months. Level 3, with MES, manages production execution on a scale of shifts to minutes. Many integration problems arise at this boundary, so it deserves explicit documentation.