Editing OPC Foundation (section)

The  '''OPC Foundation''' (Open Platform Communications, formerly Object Linking and Embedding for Process Control<ref>{{cite web
|url=https://opcfoundation.org/about/what-is-opc/
|title=What is OPC?
|publisher=OPC Foundation
|accessdate=2022-04-06}}</ref>) is an [[consortium|industry consortium]] that creates and maintains standards for open connectivity of [[industrial automation]] devices and systems, such as [[industrial control system]]s and [[process control]] generally. The OPC [[standardization|standard]]s specify the communication of industrial process data, [[alarm]]s and events, historical data and [[Batch processing|batch process]] data between [[sensor]]s, [[Measuring instrument|instrument]]s, controllers,  software systems, and [[notification device]]s.

The OPC Foundation started in 1994,<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.kepware.com/Menu_items/industry_OPC_Foundation.asp
|title=About OPC – OPen Connectivity through Open Standards
|publisher=[[Kepware Technologies]]
|accessdate=2009-03-07}}</ref> as a task force comprising five industrial automation vendors ([[Fisher/Rosemount|Fisher-Rosemount]], [[Rockwell Automation]], [[Opto 22]], Intellution, and Intuitive Technology),<ref>{{cite web
 |url         = http://www.opcfoundation.org/Default.aspx/01_about/01_history.asp?MID=AboutOPC
 |title       = About OPC – What is the OPC Foundation?
 |publisher   = OPC Foundation
 |accessdate  = 2012-01-30
 |url-status     = dead
 |archiveurl  = https://web.archive.org/web/20120220234456/http://www.opcfoundation.org/Default.aspx/01_about/01_history.asp?MID=AboutOPC
 |archivedate = 2012-02-20
}}</ref> with the purpose of creating a basic [[OLE for process control|OLE for Process Control]] specification.  [[Object Linking and Embedding|OLE]] is a technology developed by [[Microsoft Corporation]] for the [[Microsoft Windows|MS Windows]] operating system.  The task force released the OPC standard in August 1996.{{Citation needed|date=March 2023}} The OPC Foundation was chartered to continue development of interoperability specifications and includes manufacturers and users of devices instruments, controllers, software and enterprise systems. 

The OPC Foundation cooperates with other organizations, such as [[MTConnect]], who share similar missions.