Functional unit responsible for controlling the overall process and superordinate to the hierarchical control circuits (DIN 19 237).
The core element of this kind of overall control unit (control system) as used, for example, in DNC control arrangements for manufacturing groups is the master computer, whose task is to control from a central location all the manufacturing equipment connected via the program network. In general, some form of variable storage capacity and a central database are also used.
The between the overall control unit and the NC machine controls is generally provided by DNC terminals, which make it possible to connect the various NC controls via standard interfaces.