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FEATURE MACHINE CONTROL


HMIs: Bridging the gap between operator and asset The importance of Human Machine Interface choice is growing rapidly in the


age of digital transformation. Andy Graham, solutions manager, SolutionsPT, examines what OEMs need to look for when specifying an HMI for their application


H


uman Machine Interfaces (HMI) bridge the gap between operator and


asset, allowing the all-important human element of the factory to interact with machines. No matter the format, HMIs have become more integral to the factory of the future and, as a result, OEMs have a new opportunity. Machine building is a notoriously


competitive market, with companies always looking to develop new, intuitive and innovative, products that offer more benefits to their customers. The importance of HMI choice is growing rapidly in the age of digital transformation as they become a vital interface between the machine, the connected factory and the on-site operators who are increasingly expected to make real-time interventions.


WHAT SHOULD OEMS BE LOOKING FOR IN HMIS? When it comes to HMIs, with the right expertise it is possible to engineer the device to complete whatever control or data function is desired. But, to reach that level of functionality, your HMI has to have flexibility. Only by offering a high level of in-built flexibility can an OEM see the potential for scalability using templetisation. Achieving this level of control allows OEMs to simply copy applications from one machine to another, essentially standardising their offering. Having the same look and feel across all products, whether that is a beverage bottling line or food packaging process, vastly reduces design and training time for operators and creates a single, familiar, environment. OEMs have enough on their plate when it comes to fulfilling orders. Making


24 MARCH 2021 | DESIGN SOLUTIONS / DESIGNSOLUTIONS


The HMI is (physically) a small part of a factory operation but is one with a big impact on productivity


When it comes to HMIs, with the right expertise it is possible to engineer the device to complete whatever control or data function desired


complex machinery to perform an equally complex task is hard enough, why make it harder without a standardised approach to HMIs? Working this way means delivering a unit to a repeat customer is now even easier – both the machine builder and the end user are happy in the knowledge the new unit and all those that follow will be compatible. By removing common issues like item addressing within the PLCs, OEMs no longer need to go into every HMI to build in compatibility. With the standardised approach, all onsite operators know what information is being visualised and more importantly how to interact with that machine, even if it is brand-new on the factory floor.


HMI DESIGN With what’s on the panel, simplicity is key to standardisation. To those machine


builders needing to meet a standard (such as ISA101), the choice of HMI vendor is very important. OEMs should always look to receive the graphical representations straight out of the box. Again, this minimises design time and increases speed to market, providing the tools to meet both industry standards and specific end user needs. Working with the right vendor and


creating a standardised approach turns a time-consuming design task into a quick and easy configuration. For end users that need differing alarm limits or a new orientation, the OEM can provide configurability at the touch of a button, rather than a costly re-design.


STAYING ADAPTIVE For machine builders, choosing a vendor for HMI software should start with a


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