Glossary · System coordination, integration and orchestration
Handover point
Also known as: transfer point, demarcation point
German: Übergabepunkt
In production and system integration, a handover point is the defined physical or logical location at which material, data or responsibility passes from one machine, system or party to another.
- System integration
In one sentence
A handover point is the defined place where material, data or responsibility passes from one machine, system or party to the next.
Example
The handover point between the filler supplier and the conveyor supplier is the transfer plate at the filler outfeed, including the product-present sensor there.
How it applies
- Engineering: Define each handover point precisely: position, product orientation, signals, data and timing. Ambiguous handover points lead to gaps where nobody provides a sensor, a guard or a function.
- Safety: At handover points between machines of different suppliers, hazards can fall between the individual risk assessments. The party responsible for the assembly of machinery must cover them.
- Documentation: Show handover points in layouts and interface documents, and state who is responsible for which side. Commissioning records should confirm that each handover point works as specified.
Handover point vs. handover protocol
The handover point is where the transfer happens. The Handover protocol is how it happens: the sequence of signals and checks that both sides follow.