A mail order pharmacy operations relied on legacy SCADA applications for KPI reporting. These applications failed modern security audits (including Veracode) and lacked flexibility for real-time downtime, OEE, and event monitoring. The fragmented system created compliance risks, delayed KPI visibility, and limited scalability for enterprise-wide deployment.
FrameworX was implemented to modernize KPI reporting and provide a secure, scalable enterprise platform. A key enabler was the FrameworX Edge project acting as a Calculation Engine, which processes raw PLC data in real time before passing it into GE Historian. This enabled advanced downtime and OEE calculations at the edge, reducing historian load and improving overall system responsiveness. The solution included secure local data collection, Windows Server infrastructure, and integrated dashboards for downtime, OEE, and event monitoring.
Simple Architecture Diagram:
Rockwell PLCs → FrameworX Edge Project (Calc Engine) → FrameworX Local Engine → GE Historian 6.0
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FrameworX Portal & Monitor Services
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CVS SQL Server
Technical Specifications:
PLCs: Rockwell Automation (including custom controllers)
Database: Microsoft SQL Server (existing CVS SQL)
Historian: GE Historian 6.0
Servers: Windows Server 2021 R2 (App Server 1: Local Engine & Edge Calc Engine, App Server 2: Portal & Monitor)
Architecture: Edge data collection and calculation engine feeding historian and SQL-based event monitor
Integration: FrameworX Edge → GE Historian → SQL MES Event Monitor
Edge Project as Calculation Engine: Real-time KPI and downtime/OEE calculations at the edge, minimizing historian overhea
Secure Enterprise Deployment: Passed modern security audits where legacy systems failed
Templated Asset Types: Rapid deployment of new assets and consistent data models across facilities
Integrated Dashboards: FrameworX Portal & Monitor providing real-time MES event monitoring with SQL integration
Delivered real-time KPI visibility for downtime, OEE, and security metrics critical to pharmacy operations
Reduced compliance risk by passing stringent security screening and Veracode testing
Optimized historian performance by shifting calculations to the edge
Enabled consistent, scalable deployment across multiple facilities with standardized asset templates