OPC is designed to deliver open connectivity via open standards in industrial automation and the
enterprise systems, and is based on a series of standards specifications.
Originally based on Microsoft's OLE COM (component object model) and
DCOM
(distributed component object model) technologies, the specification defined a
standard set of objects, interfaces and methods for use in process control and
manufacturing automation applications to facilitate interoperability. OPC is
supported by the OPC Foundation.
OPC Foundation The OPC Foundation is dedicated to ensuring interoperability in automation by creating and maintaining open specifications that standardize the communication of acquired process data, alarm and event records, historical data, and batch data to multi-vendor enterprise systems and between production devices.
