ISA-95: What Each Part Actually Does

If you've been around manufacturing systems, you've probably seen that famous pyramid. Maybe you've even heard of the equipment hierarchy, enterprise, site, area, line...

But here’s the thing:

ISA-95 is not just a hierarchy.

It’s a full framework, made of multiple parts; and understanding those parts is the key to unlocking real standardization and smarter automation.

Let’s break it down:

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ISA-95 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭 1:

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Defines the four core domains in manufacturing:

⇨ Production
⇨ Quality
⇨ Maintenance
⇨ Inventory

It shows how they fit between ERP systems and the control layer. Start here if you want to see the big picture.

ISA-95 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭 3:

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Lays out all the activities that happen in manufacturing. If you're implementing or upgrading a system, this part helps you:

⇨ Map current operations
⇨ Identify gaps
⇨ Define future states

It shows how your plant actually runs, and where it could run better.

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ISA-95 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐬 2 & 4:

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These parts define what information is exchanged, the actual entities:

⇨ Orders
⇨ Schedules
⇨ Results
⇨ Performance data

Part 2 handles info flow between ERP (Level 4) and MOM (Level 3). Part 4 focuses on exchanges within Level 3 systems.

Both use object-oriented models; they're precise but dense.

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ISA-95 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐬 5 & 6:

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Knowing what to send isn’t enough. You need to know how to send it.

That’s what these parts are for:

⇨ Part 5: Wraps your data in an envelope, defines transactions, headers, context.

⇨ Part 6: Deals with communication between local systems and global ones. Think: How do two MES applications “talk” across a network?

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