Clarifying the CEMAT MIS (Management Information System) - Architecture, Software Entitlements, and Licensing Requirements

Contrary to common assumptions, the CEMAT Management Information System (MIS) does not come included for free with base CEMAT software, nor can it be deployed without separate licensing. In SIMATIC PCS 7 CEMAT environments, base engineering and runtime licenses cover controller execution (C_DRV_1D, C_GROUP) and operational WinCC faceplates. In contrast, CEMAT MIS is a dedicated enterprise option package engineered for long-term production accounting, overall equipment effectiveness (OEE), kiln thermal balances, and running hours logging. Deploying CEMAT MIS mandates distinct software licenses—specifically CEMAT MIS Server, CEMAT MIS Client, and appropriate Microsoft SQL Server or Oracle database options—installed via Automation License Manager (ALM).

The Role of CEMAT MIS in Heavy Process Industries (Cement and Minerals)

In cement plants, limestone quarries, and mining beneficiation facilities, supervisory control systems must do more than start conveyors and modulate kiln draft dampers. Plant management, maintenance supervisors, and production directors require comprehensive analytics: What is the clinker production rate per thermal megawatt? Which raw mill belt conveyor caused the most downtime hours this month? What is the specific electrical energy consumption (kWh per ton)?

To answer these operational questions, Siemens developed CEMAT MIS (Management Information System). It functions as an operational historian and reporting layer tailored specifically to the cement and minerals manufacturing lifecycle.

Base CEMAT Process Control vs Enterprise MIS Reporting Capabilities

Engineers reviewing sales brochures frequently confuse operational runtime faceplates with full MIS functionality:

Base CEMAT Operation: Technological blocks (C_DRV_1D, C_GROUP, C_ROUTE) possess internal operating hours counters and basic fault registers that operators can view on individual WinCC faceplates. This operational data is volatile and short-term.
CEMAT MIS Capabilities: Aggregates data plant-wide across all AS controllers, executing complex statistical algorithms: Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE), MTBF (Mean Time Between Failures), MTTR (Mean Time To Repair), automated silo stock calculation, kiln thermal efficiency curves, and shift handover production logs.

Software Architecture: CEMAT MIS Server, Database, and Web Clients

The technical infrastructure of CEMAT MIS operates as an autonomous multi-tier system:

Data Acquisition Layer: Background collector services running on the WinCC OS Servers collect event logs, status changes, and analog totals from CEMAT technological blocks.
Relational Database Repository: CEMAT MIS stores long-term historical records in a dedicated enterprise database (Microsoft SQL Server Standard or Oracle Database), completely separate from the active WinCC runtime database to ensure zero operational interference.
Reporting and Presentation Layer: Built on Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS) or web portal technology, allowing managers to view reports via web browsers on corporate office PCs without requiring PCS 7 software installation.

Licensing Structure: Why Extra Entitlements Are Strictly Required

Purchasing standard PCS 7 and CEMAT software licenses does not grant rights to execute the MIS reporting server:

Mandatory Software License Keys:
CEMAT MIS Server: Authorizes the background data extraction engine and database logging services.
CEMAT MIS Client: Authorizes client workstations or concurrent web sessions accessing reports.
Database Licensing: If utilizing Microsoft SQL Server Standard for the MIS repository, appropriate SQL Server licenses and Client Access Licenses (CALs) must be licensed.
Attempting to launch MIS collector services without valid ALM license keys will generate fatal license violation popups and halt database collection.

Comparative Feature Matrix: Core CEMAT Operation vs CEMAT MIS

The following table delineates the functional and commercial differences between core CEMAT and CEMAT MIS:

Feature / DomainCore CEMAT Process ControlCEMAT MIS (Management Information System)Primary UserControl Room OperatorsPlant Managers, Maintenance Engineers, Corporate ExecutivesTarget EnvironmentReal-Time WinCC OS RuntimeDedicated MIS Reporting Server / Web PortalData ScopeReal-time process mimics, alarms, interlocksHistorical KPI reporting, downtime analysis, OEE, energy trackingReporting TechnologyBasic WinCC print jobs / hardcopiesMicrosoft SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS) Web ReportsDatabase EngineLocal WinCC SQL Server (Cyclic Segments)Dedicated MIS Database (Long-term multi-year repository)Licensing RequirementIncluded in standard CEMAT OS RT packageRequires separate CEMAT MIS Server & Client licenses

Commercial Accuracy Disclaimer

Commercial Accuracy Disclaimer: Software order numbers (MLFBs), package structures, and hardware capacity prerequisites vary across PCS 7 versions and hardware platforms. System integrators must confirm exact software entitlements and licensing requirements against the official Siemens Catalog CA 01 and obtain an authorized Siemens distributor quotation prior to purchasing.

Never assume optional industrial packages (such as CEMAT MIS, PowerControl, or Asset Management) are bundled within base system software. Explicitly request a commercial quotation for the required CEMAT MIS Server and Client license MLFBs.

Step-by-Step Procedure to Evaluate and Deploy CEMAT MIS

Follow this engineering roadmap when evaluating and deploying CEMAT MIS:

Audit Base Automation Baseline:
- Confirm that the plant is running a certified version of CEMAT (e.g., CEMAT V8.1 or V9.0) with consistent object tagging.
- Verify that all drive blocks (C_DRV_1D) and groups (C_GROUP) have unique, meaningful plant identifiers.
Procure Required Software Licenses:
- Contact Siemens or an authorized distributor to obtain the exact CEMAT MIS Server and CEMAT MIS Client license keys.
- Install licenses on the target MIS reporting server using Automation License Manager (ALM).
Deploy Dedicated MIS Server Hardware:
- Commission a dedicated physical server or virtual machine running Windows Server 2012 R2 / 2016 / 2019.
- Install Microsoft SQL Server with Reporting Services (SSRS).
Install CEMAT MIS Software Suite:
- Run the official CEMAT MIS Setup.exe from the CEMAT installation media.
- Configure the network collector connection pointing to the PCS 7 OS Servers via Terminal Bus.
Configure Reporting Dashboards:
- Deploy standard CEMAT cement templates (Production Log, Kiln Summary, Fault Duration Report).
- Grant corporate user rights via Windows Active Directory.

Verification

Verify CEMAT MIS installation through these checks:

Open Automation License Manager on the MIS server. Verify that CEMAT MIS Server displays as 'Valid' with green checkmarks.
Open the MIS collector diagnostics console: confirm active communication with the PCS 7 OS Servers.
Open a web browser on a corporate client PC, navigate to the MIS portal URL, and log in.
Generate a 'Downtime Analysis Report' for the primary crusher: verify that historical motor trips and interlock stop times populate accurately.

Limitations and Operational Precautions

Never Install MIS on Active OS Servers: Installing the heavy MIS reporting engine and SSRS reporting databases directly on active WinCC OS Servers can cause severe CPU and disk I/O starvation during large historical report generations, risking operator station lag.
Time Synchronization: Accurate downtime calculation requires sub-second chronological alignment across all AS controllers, OS servers, and the MIS server. Enforce plant-wide NTP time synchronization.
Database Maintenance: Configure automated SQL database maintenance plans to defragment indexes and manage transaction log growth.

Engineer FAQ

Can I view CEMAT operating hours without purchasing CEMAT MIS?

Yes. Standard CEMAT faceplates on the WinCC operator station display individual equipment running hours and maintenance countdowns without the MIS package. MIS is only required for aggregated plant-wide reporting and automated KPI dashboards.