How Open Architectures and Unified Namespace Are Reshaping Manufacturing
Meet PLCnext Technology—a networking powerhouse bridging IT and OT with ease. Powered by open Linux-based controllers, it supports industrial protocols like OPC UA, MQTT, PROFINET, and PROFIBUS and various more protocols, giving your machines full communication fluency across legacy and modern systems alike. From edge to cloud, PLCnext Technology keeps your data flowing seamlessly.
Explore PLCnext TechnologyHosts Phil Seboa and Ed Fuentes interview Jasper Louage from Mustry Solutions, focusing on unified namespace adoption, the shift to open-source platforms, and agile deployment methods. These topics equip manufacturers to break down data silos, improve integration speed, and future-proof their operations.
The biggest shift in industrial data integration today centers around unified namespace (UNS) adoption. Jasper Louage points out that, “It’s about going event driven, having all the data flowing into your ecosystem and not just going from point to point.” Instead of individual systems communicating directly, a unified namespace provides one place for all data to be accessed and acted upon. This allows both plant operators and business leaders to quickly respond to changes and drive performance improvements, solving what Ed Fuentes describes as the old challenge of getting shop floor data “into that IT layer to the CEO space…so the C-suite can start really understanding in real time what's occurring at the plant floor.” By moving toward event-driven designs, manufacturers can rapidly uncover inefficiencies and make informed decisions.
Open source technologies are gaining traction across industrial data systems, from edge connectivity to business analytics. Jasper Louage explains, “All the technology we’re using right now…all the good things, they’re all open source.” Tools like the United Manufacturing Hub, Grafana, and Odoo ERP allow teams to inspect code, build custom solutions, and benefit from global developer communities. Here, open source is more than transparency – it’s about flexibility, cost control, and rapid innovation. “I think the industry has a trend…industrial software to be a bit of a laggard on the IT space but…I think it will look very different. My bet is we’ll see some big contenders in open source,” Jasper Louage predicts. Manufacturers using open platforms can build systems suited to their own needs and adapt faster as requirements change.
Manufacturers today pursue shorter deployment cycles, focusing on quick value delivery through agile methods and minimal viable products (MVPs). Jasper Louage shares that their approach is “pretty agile…with shorter sprints and having short MVPs as well,” and many projects deliver results within “two weeks into four weeks.” This direct involvement—such as spending time on the production floor and collaborating closely with line operators—uncovers real bottlenecks and priorities. The result is solutions that workers quickly adopt, dramatically improving both change management and project impact. Jasper Louage finds, “A lot of people think people find change so hard, but…most of our projects, we see people loving it when they finally get a tool they can do their jobs better with.” Agile deployment helps manufacturers respond to problems, reduce ongoing delays, and realize business value sooner.
“It’s about going event driven, having all the data flowing into your ecosystem and not just going from point to point.” – Jasper Louage
Jasper Louagehighlights the industry-wide move to event-driven unified namespaces, allowing seamless data flow and improved transparency.
Open source platforms—like United Manufacturing Hub, Grafana, and Odoo—empower manufacturers to control costs, accelerate innovation, and retain flexibility.
Agile MVP deployment delivers rapid results and builds internal support, as teams see quick wins and reduced resistance to change.
Unified namespace architectures, open source platforms, and agile deployment form the backbone of future-ready manufacturing operations. Teams can start by mapping their existing data flows and considering an event-driven approach, piloting open source tools in non-critical areas, and setting up cross-functional groups tasked with rapid MVP cycles. Manufacturers who invest in these improvements will see reduced data silos, lower costs, improved operator satisfaction, and faster decision-making. For actionable steps, managers should connect with solution providers, trial open platforms, and focus on projects with fast ROI.
Jasper Louage is the founder of Mustry Solutions, a consultancy focused on open architecture, unified namespace, and industrial data operations for manufacturing clients. Driven by a passion for learning and practical solutions, he has helped organizations improve efficiency and data accessibility on the shop floor and in enterprise systems, through agile and open source-focused methods.
Learn about Mustry Solutions:
PLCnext Technology is the ecosystem for industrial automation consisting of open hardware, modular engineering software, a global community, and a digital software marketplace.
PLCnext Technology connects the IT and OT worlds
Make your application fit for IIoT and Industry 4.0
Digitalization and globalization are placing new demands on industrial automation. The precisely tailored design of the open automation system is just as important as flexible, modular expansion. In addition to standard programming of PLC systems in accordance with IEC 61131-3, parallel programming and the combination of programming languages such as C/C++, C#, and Matlab® Simulink® in real time is also possible with PLCnext Control. Accelerate your application development process with the free basic version of PLCnext Engineer. Or use your familiar programming environment. You decide.
With simple cloud integration, the option to use open source software, and the ever-expanding expertise of the PLCnext Community, you will benefit from new forms of collaboration. The resulting solution apps, software modules, runtime systems, and function extensions are available in the PLCnext Store and save an enormous amount of time and money when creating applications. This makes PLCnext Technology the ideal ecosystem for your modern automation challenge.