Visualization of workflow in an industrial automation environment

1. A visualization system that generates a visualization of manufacturing operations and corresponding workflow, comprising:

an interface component that receives input concerning displayed objects and information;

a context component that can detect, infer or determine context information regarding an entity or application;

a workflow component that binds workflow information to industrial automation manufacturing-related information; and

a visualization component that dynamically generates a visualization from a set of display objects to present to a user that is a function of the received context information, workflow information, and industrial automation manufacturing-related information.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the context information comprises at least one of: an entity's identity, role, location, current activity, similar or previous interactions with automation devices, or context data pertaining to automation devices including control systems, devices and associated equipment.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the visualization component generates a graphical representation of a production environment including one or more objects representing, devices or information pertaining to devices, and workflow information corresponding to the production environment.

4. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a diagnostic/prognostic component that provides for collecting and/or generating data relating to historical, current and predicted operating state(s) of machines.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the visualization component displays worker productivity information with production line information corresponding to the workers concurrently in a single integrated visualization.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the visualization component displays revenue information with production line information in a single integrated visualization.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the visualization component displays inventory information with production line information in a single integrated visualization.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the visualization component displays sales order information with production line information in a single integrated visualization.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the visualization displays icons representative of workflow state concurrently with visualizations of manufacturing operations, the respective icons are located in a visualization space as a function of relevance to respective manufacturing operations.

10. A method for generating a visualization of manufacturing operations and corresponding workflow, comprising:

receiving input concerning displayed objects and information;

detecting, inferring or determining context information regarding an entity or application;

binding workflow information to industrial automation manufacturing-related information; and

dynamically generating a visualization from a set of display objects to present to a user that is a function of the received context information, workflow information, and industrial automation manufacturing-related information.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the context information comprises at least one of: an entity's identity, role, location, current activity, similar or previous interactions with automation devices, or context data pertaining to automation devices including control systems, devices and associated equipment.

12. The method of claim 10 , comprising generating a graphical representation of a production environment including one or more objects representing, devices or information pertaining to devices, and workflow information corresponding to the production environment.

13. The method of claim 10 , collecting and/or generating data relating to historical, current and predicted operating state(s) of machines.

14. The method of claim 10 , further comprising displaying worker productivity information with production line information corresponding to the workers concurrently in a single integrated visualization.

15. The method of claim 10 , further comprising displaying revenue information with production line information in a single integrated visualization.

16. The method of claim 10 , further comprising displaying inventory information with production line information in a single integrated visualization.

17. The method of claim 10 , further comprising displaying sales order information with production line information in a single integrated visualization.

18. The method of claim 10 , further comprising displaying icons representative of workflow state concurrently with visualizations of manufacturing operations, the respective icons are located in a visualization space as a function of relevance to respective manufacturing operations.

19. A computer-implemented system that generates a visualization of manufacturing operations and corresponding workflow, comprising:

means for receiving input concerning displayed objects and information;

means for detecting, inferring or determining context information regarding an entity or application;

means for binding workflow information to industrial automation manufacturing-related information; and

means for dynamically generating a visualization from a set of display objects to present to a user that is a function of the received context information, workflow information, and industrial automation manufacturing-related information.

20. The system of claim 19 , further comprising means for generating a graphical representation of a production environment including one or more objects representing, devices or information pertaining to devices, and workflow information corresponding to the production environment.